Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that has contaminated the fish that we eat, resulting in a statewide freshwater fish advisory in New Hampshire since 1994, warning pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and children under 7 to limit their fish consumption. Our Zero Mercury Campaign was launched in 2000 to pressure the New England Governors to virtually eliminate the use of, release of, and exposure to mercury in New Hampshire and the region by the year 2010.
The campaign goals are to:
1) Eliminate the use and emission of mercury in the region by 2010;
2) Protect children and adults from existing harmful levels of mercury contamination in fish through effective health warnings and education.
Following up on 1998 commitments by the New England governors to achieve "virtual elimination" of mercury emissions, the campaign is working with public officials to accelerate clean-up efforts and better inform the public of mercury exposure risks. New Hampshire’s coal power plants in Bow and
Portsmouth, our largest in-state sources, are now the only ones in New England that are yet to be regulated for mercury emissions. The issue is given added urgency in New Hampshire as ongoing research shows that fish-eating birds such as loons continue to be threatened by mercury poisoning in New Hampshire.
Please visit the NH Zero Mercury Campaign and the New England Zero Mercury Campaign website for more information.
Climate Action Campaign
The New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopted a Climate Change Action Plan in August of 2001. The plan combats global warming by committing to near-term reductions of human-made greenhouse gas emissions over the course of the next two decades, as well as long-term reductions to 75-85% below current levels at some point.
To ensure that the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers' Climate Change Action Plan is implemented, environmental, health and other groups around the region are joining together to press for steady progress. The NH Climate Action Coalition (NHCAC) will work to ensure full implementation of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers' Climate Change Action Plan in our own state. New Hampshire has yet to create a state action plan; NHCAC will work to influence the creation of such a plan to ensure it places New Hampshire in a position to achieve deep greenhouse gas emission reductions. In addition, NHCAC will collaborate closely with coalition partners pressing for action on global warming around the region.
For more information, please visit www.newenglandclimate.org/.
