Environmental Group Offers Road Map to Curb Global Warming
    The Associated Press

    Monday 18 December 2006

    Rockport, Maine - A regional environmental group Monday released a comprehensive "climate change roadmap" to reduce pollution linked to global warming by 75 percent in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.

    Environment Northeast said the proposals included in the 275-page plan draw from many of the best practices already found within the region, including Massachusetts's use of low-emission, hybrid buses and Maine's requirement that new state buildings exceed energy codes by 20 percent.

    "We're entering a new era, one in which certainly all of our energy decisions have to be made in the context of how they impact climate change," said Sam Krasnow, a policy advocate and attorney for Environment Northeast in Boston.

    The group's executive director, Daniel Sosland of Rockport, said the 10 priorities spelled out in the roadmap would put the region on the path toward 75 percent lower emissions by 2050, a goal that would stave off the worst impact of global warming.

    The 10 priorities, broken down into energy, transportation and carbon storage, would reduce greenhouse gas pollutants by at least 35 million to 40 million metric tons by 2020, Environment Northeast estimated.

    The group said it planned to present its plan to industry and government officials in hopes of triggering discussion about how to make policy changes that would meet greenhouse gas targets while strengthening the economy.

    Krasnow said he has been in touch with Gov.-elect Deval Patrick's transition team and they have been receptive.

    "I think they're onto something in that they see energy policy as an economic issue and a great opportunity for the state of Massachusetts to commercialize and deploy new technologies that are going to be in demand locally, nationally and internationally," he said.

    Patrick could not be reached for comment Monday.