Report: New England not meeting global warming targets
New England is not on track to meet its targets for global warming pollution reductions -- a commitment made back in 2001, according to a report issued by a coalition of environmental groups.
In fact, global warming emissions have increased in most sectors of the region's economy, from transportation, electricity generation, and fossil fuel consumption, said the report released Wednesday, "Falling Behind: New England Must Act Now to Reduce Global Warming Pollution."
"In the next century, New England could see coastal flooding, displacement of critical animal and plant habitat, death of hardwood trees responsible for vibrant fall displays, loss of a reliable ski season, and damage from more severe storms," the report said.
The good news for the region, however, is that global warming pollution fell slightly from 2004 to 2005, and several indicators suggest the trend continued in 2006, the report said. The leading reason for the decline was a reduction in emissions from oil consumption in the residential, commercial and transportation sectors. In 2005, oil prices increased and demand for home heating oil was down slightly due to a warmer winter.
Of all the states in the region, New Hampshire had the greatest increase in emissions between 2001 and 2005 -- the period studied since members of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers signed a Climate Change Action Plan.
Instead, emissions rose by 26 percent, mainly because of an increase in electricity generation, the study said. Two of the state's three largest power plants came on line since 2001.
Rhode Island was the only state to show a drop in emissions, falling by 7 percent between 2001 and 2005, the report said. The bulk of the drop was due to reductions in power production and emissions decreases in transportation.
The region may not have met its goals, but New England has made some progress in adopting policies to reduce global warming pollution, the report said.
"We seem to be turning the ship around, but we have to turn the wheel harder," said Erika Staaf of Environment New Hampshire. "We cannot afford to watch emissions respond to some policies and high energy prices while we leave many policies and sectors unaddressed."
The study suggested:
-- Adopting mandatory caps on global warming pollution from all sectors of the economy.
-- Strengthening transit systems and clean energy policies, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which caps emissions from electric power plants; the Clean Cars program, adopted by all the states except New Hampshire; renewable energy; and consumer-funded home and business heating efficiency programs.
-- Building a more sustainable transportation system that would reduce emissions by investing in rail plans; encouraging downtown redevelopment in a pedestrian-friendly way; and reallocating the costs of driving, such as pay-as-you-drive insurance and elimination of parking subsidies.
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