| January 18, 2007 |  |
Massachusetts Rejoins Regional Fight against Global Warming
Scientists hail Gov. Patrick for championing action on climate change
CAMBRIDGE, MA—The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) today hailed Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick for rejoining a multi-state effort to combat global warming. The move reestablishes Massachusetts, along with seven other states in the regional effort, as a national leader in climate change policy that raises the bar for other state, regional, and federal efforts.
"By making climate change action a high priority, Governor Patrick is demonstrating his vision and commitment to the long-term well-being of the Commonwealth and its citizens" said Kevin Knobloch, President of UCS. "The choices we make in addressing global warming today will have a profound impact on the climate, economy and way of life our children and grandchildren will inherit."
A recent major report by top climate experts facilitated by UCS found that unchecked global warming would dramatically change the Northeast's climate - by the end of this century, a summer day in Massachusetts would feel like a one in present-day South Carolina. The Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment study also found, however, that strong action to curb heat-trapping emissions in the next few years could substantially alter that outcome, restraining the severity of global warming to much more modest levels.
"When it comes to global warming, the most costly thing we can do is nothing, and Governor Patrick's announcement today shows he understands that," said Dr. Peter Frumhoff, UCS's Director of Science and Policy and Chair of the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment. "This cost-effective approach paves the way for a strong national cap on global warming emissions and helps position Massachusetts as a leader in expanding energy-efficiency and renewable energy technologies."
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a collaboration of eight Northeast states to address global warming by reducing electric power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, the principal heat-trapping gas. Power plants will be able to trade emissions allowances to achieve the necessary reductions at the lowest possible cost. A similar cap-and-trade system for sulfur dioxide emissions has been successfully reducing acid rain in the Northeast since 1990.
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
