Weatherize your home to conserve energy and stay warm

Bundle up, Massachusetts! It's a freezing day! As I write this, it's 21 (feels like 8 with wind chill) here in Boston and it's as low as 10 (-2 with wind chill) in Pittsfield, and technically it isn't even winter yet! Before you reach for the thermostat to blast the heat, here are a few things you can do to stay warm that will save energy.

• Lower your thermostat at night and when you leave the house. If you have a programmable thermostat.
  
• Replace drafty, single pane windows with double pane windows, or install storm windows. If time or cost is a factor, pick up window insulation kits from a hardware store and seal up those drafts.

• Place draft dodgers in front of any door that goes outdoors.
• If you have a fire place, make sure to close the flue damper whenever you're not using it. 
• Check for drafts around electrical outlets, pipes, attic and cellar doors, and door and window frames. Seal up drafty spots with caulk or weatherstripping. Reducing drafts could reduce your monthly energy bill by up to 10%.
  
• Add insulation to your attic. 
• Low-income households can contact the Massachusetts Weatherization Assistance Program for help staying warm this winter.
• Check out the US Department of Energy's Energy Saver guide for more information about specific heating systems.
• Wear warm clothing!

Do you have any other tips for staying warm and saving energy this winter? Share them in the comments!

Environment Massachusetts Wants to See Progress at Copenhagen

World leaders are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, right now to address global warming and to develop a plan to combat it. As the world’s largest emitter of human-caused carbon dioxide pollution, and second-largest emitter of global warming pollution, America has a responsibility to take initiative in passing strict international global warming pollution limits. 

Environment Massachusetts and Environment America urge President Barack Obama to follow the states' example and forge a strong international agreement to address global warming during the Copenhagen talks. He should work for a plan that will deliver sufficient emission reductions to prevent an increase in global average temperatures of more than 3.6° F (2° C) above pre-industrial levels. A plan that accomplishes this would help the world avoid the most damaging impacts of global warming.

Though US involvement in an international agreement is absolutely vital, individual American states are already doing a great deal to fight global warming on their own. A study done by Environment America suggests that state actions will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 536 million metric tons by 2020.

"That is more global warming pollution than is currently emitted by all but eight of the world’s nations, and represents approximately 7 percent of U.S. global warming pollution in 2007."

Consider this: Massachusetts, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland and New Jersey produce nearly a quarter of America’s economic output and 13 percent of its fossil fuel-related carbon dioxide emissions. If these six states were a separate country, they would rank as the world’s fifth-largest economy and seventh-leading emitter of carbon dioxide. All six of these states have adopted binding caps on global warming pollution from their respective state economies, an action that will definitely have an impact on the global climate.

Clearly the United States is ready to commit to emission reductions and continue the steps toward clean energy that individual states have taken. The US as a whole should commit to a 35 percent reduction in global warming pollution from 2005 levels by 2020, and an 83 percent reduction by 2050. Individual states should continue to move forward with effective implementation of existing policies while continuing to switch to clean energy.

Have you been following the news about the Copenhagen talks? What results would you like to see? Let us know in the comments.

Remember to Vote in the Senate Primary!

The Senate Primary is today, so remember to go vote!

Whoever is elected to serve as the new Massachusetts Senator in January's special election will have the chance to vote on important climate legislation. Since primaries are all-important here in heavily Democratic Massachusetts, the winner of next week's Democratic primary will have a good chance at taking part in the debate over climate legislation. With that in mind, it would be a good idea to go over each of the candidate's positions on climate change and the environment.

Scott Brown (R):

"I support common-sense environment policy that will help to reduce pollution and preserve our precious open spaces. I realize that without action now, future generations will be left to clean up the mess we leave. In order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, I support reasonable and appropriate development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal and improved hydroelectric facilities. I oppose a national cap and trade program because of the higher costs that families and businesses would incur."

Mike Capuano (D):

"Every year that we fail to take action only makes the changes required to stop global warming that much more drastic. Mike is hopeful that this year we will finally see real progress on this serious issue.  The House recently passed a bill to freeze emissions at 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and slowly reduce them to 83% of 2005 emissions by 2050. He fought to strengthen the bill by:

• Advocating for strong building code provisions so that new homes and commercial buildings are energy efficient,
• Pushing for a strong renewable electricity standard to require that a certain percentage of a power company's portfolio came from renewable sources,
• Calling for more funding to be dedicated to green jobs."

Martha Coakley (D):

"Martha believes America needs a comprehensive approach to lowering our energy costs, meeting our energy needs and protecting our environment. Martha knows we need affordable, sustainable and diverse energy supplies that maximize the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies....In Washington, Martha will continue her commitment to combat global warming by supporting the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, as well as the more recent Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act that Senator Kerry introduced. These comprehensive bills will make the United States a leader in the fight against global warming. "

Alan Khazei (D):

"Alan's Six-Point Plan:
1. Pass Clean Energy Legislation Now
2. Invest in Renewables
3. Quadruple Clean Energy R&D
4. Close the Commercialization Gap
5. Improve Efficiency
6. End Big Oil Subsidies"

Steve Pagliuca (D):

"We must continue to invest in clean, renewable energy and set an example to the rest of the world. Right now, the US is second only to China in greenhouse gas emissions – this has to change. I am proud of our efforts in Massachusetts to make us a more energy responsible state, and I support Governor Patrick’s programs such as the Green Communities Act....I strongly believe that our continued investment in clean energy technologies will create jobs in Massachusetts, help reduce our reliance on coal and lower our energy costs."

Jack E. Robinson (R):

GOAL: Cleaner & greener environment with lower energy costs. The Environment can’t ruin our Economy, but the Economy shouldn’t ruin the Environment.

Promote renewable and sustainable energy sources like nuclear, wind and solar. Support Cape Wind.

Oppose “Cap-and-Tax” proposals, but support goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.

Kerry-Boxer Senate “Cap & Tax” Bill needs to be reworked. Add to Kerry-Boxer bill an additional credit mechanism where for every one ton of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere, a polluter must invest in new clean/green projects that will remove four tons of carbon from the air by 2020 (4:1 removal ratio)."

I encourage you to follow the links and learn more about each candidate's plans for helping our environment.

Who do you think has the best plan to combat climate change? Will this affect your vote? Let us know what you think by commenting!

The Leadership Campaign is Acting (and Camping!) Out to Fight Climate Change

Environment Massachusetts works to fight global warming through lobbying and grassroots outreach, but there are many other ways to do this, as well. We would like to take this opportunity to recognize a group of activists who are fighting to save our climate through an act of civil disobedience.

The Leadership Campaign "aims to make Mass a climate leader again by achieving 100% Clean Electricity in the next 10 years to show the world we're ready for an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen." They have brought their campaign to the steps of the State House by staging a "sleep out" on the Boston Common every Sunday night for the past several weeks. Their presence has added a powerful visual to the fight against global warming for anyone who has seen the groups of tents set up each week.

This action is not as simple as a regular camping trip. Because the Common closes to the public at 11 pm, the activists have already had two peaceful run-in with the Boston Police Department. In spite of this and the rapidly dropping temperature, the Leadership Campaign is standing their ground.

We here at Environment Massachusetts applaud the activism and goals of the Leadership Campaign, and sincerely hope their message is heard in the State House.

Staying Green on Black Friday

Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, is only a few days away, and Environment Massachusetts is working to help shoppers make more energy efficient purchases.

As I said in a previous post, one of the fastest and cheapest ways to reduce our energy usage and cut global warming pollution in Massachusetts would be to establish television efficiency standards. And so, we urge the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy, Senator Michael Morrissey and Representative Barry Feingold to move An Act Relative to Expanding Energy Efficiency in the Commonwealth (SB1524/HB3124)  to the next step toward final passage.

This bill mirrors one passed by the California Energy Commissions last week. Environment Massachusetts applauds the passage of this bill, the first of its kind in the US, and hopes it will set a precedent soon followed by Massachusetts and every other state.

However, you don't have to wait for these standards to become law in Massachusetts to buy an efficient TV. There are already more than 250 televisions that meet the proposed standards. After searching newspaper ads for Black Friday sales, we found a few TVs at Best Buy that will save you money and help stop global warming:

• Mitsubishi 73'' Class 1080p 120Hz DLP TV: $2499.98 after $300 savings
• Toshiba Regza 55'' Class 1080p Clearscan LDC LED: $2499.98 after $500 savings
• Samsung 40'' Class 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV: $1399.99 after $700 savings (includes delivery, hook-up, and recycling)
• Samsung 55'' Class 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV: $2649.99 after $950 savings (includes delivery, hook-up, and recycling)

The full list of televisions that already meet the standards is on the left; click to see a close-up. (Source: "Proposed California Television Efficiency Standards" by Noah Horowitz, National Resources Defense Council)

While comparison shopping, you will likely find similar TVs with lower prices that do not meet the standards. For example a Sharp Aquos 52'' HDTV costs about $400 less than the Samsung 55'' listed above, but the Samsung will actually save you much more in the long run because it is more energy efficient.

Leave a comment if you have any TV efficiency questions, or even any other energy efficient gift ideas!

Watch Last Week's Press Conference

Thanks to WEBN for attending the press conference!

Massachusetts' Global Warming Pollution Declined by 5%

Massachusetts’ global warming pollution declined by 5 percent since 1990, according to a new report released by Environment Massachusetts today.

Emerald Russell, a campaign organizer for Environment Massachusetts, announced the release of the report, Too Much Pollution, in a press conference in front of the State House this morning.

“The transition to clean energy is a marathon, and we’re just out of the starting block,” she said. “We can take back control of our energy future. By harnessing the power of the wind and the sun, we can cut pollution and transition to clean energy sources that don’t harm the environment, never run out, and create new, local jobs."

According to the report, success in Massachusetts shows that moving to cleaner energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions. A shift to cleaner forms of electricity here in Massachusetts is being lauded as the largest contributor to the decline in emissions. Electricity generated by oil decreased from 26 percent in 1997 to 6.5 percent in 2007. This sharp decline makes the elimination of oil dependency seem that much more possible.

The report also shows that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side; Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York cut their pollution levels by 5 percent since 1997, while increasing their gross state product by 65 percent.

The use of fossil fuel and subsequent effects of global warming pollution have been increasing for decades in this country. We’re seeing a lot of those effects here in Massachusetts, but one of our biggest concerns is definitely rising sea levels inundating our coast and flooding our communities. According to the report, the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.

The report recommends that the federal government build on the initial progress made by states like Massachusetts by passing strong clean energy legislation and adopting common sense EPA rules to cut pollution from aging coal plants and big smokestack industries. The Senate is in the process of considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Unfortunately, Dirty Coal, Big Oil, and other polluters are fighting the crucial transition to clean energy. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent more than $120,000 a day last year on lobbyists and advertising on energy. Earlier this year, they hired lobbyists who forged phony constituent letters to Congress opposing action on clean energy.” It seems like the coal industry is willing to do just about anything to further its own agenda.

We’re working hard to counter those dirty tactics. Do your part to help reduce global warming pollution in Massachusetts even more. Take public transportation, invest in solar panels if possible, and take one of Environment Massachusetts’ calls to action! Tell us about what you’re doing to help stop global warming in the comments!

The Press Conference is TODAY

Come to the State House at 10 am and show your support!


View Environment Massachusetts Press Conference in a larger map

Environment Massachusetts is Holding a Press Conference!

Environment Massachusetts is holding a press conference this Thursday morning! We're releasing a report titled Too Much Pollution, a new analysis of government data on trends in global warming pollution in Massachusetts and nationally. The conference will take place in front of the State House this Thursday November 12, at 10 am. Feel free to attend and show your support!

The report investigates how the states are doing at cutting global warming pollution and moving to clean energy using the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy. This is the first time the state-by-state emissions data have been released for 2006 and 2007.

More information about the report and the press conference will be available on our Website and here on the blog after the event, but the best way to find out what's happening is to attend! If you're thinking of attending, or have any questions, let us know by commenting!

The Boston Globe Joins the Fight for Cape Wind

The Boston Globe spoke out against the new and unexpected opposition to Cape Wind in an editorial last week, calling the attempt to "protect all of Nantucket Sound for cultural reasons" a "cynical gimmick."

The day before the editorial was published, the Globe reported that the Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag tribes claim the 130 proposed wind turbines in Nantucket Sound would disturb their spiritual sun greetings and submerged ancestral burying grounds.

The claim will more than likely be rejected because archeological excavations in Nantucket Sound have not found any signs of Native American camps or other signs of human life. In addition, federally designated traditional properties tend to be defined areas rather than bodies of water with ambiguous boundaries. In spite of that, the project will still likely be delayed.

Environment Massachusetts fully supports Cape Wind. The wind farm will generate pollution-free energy using offshore winds (a free and plentiful natural resource!), thus lowering bills, cutting pollution, and creating local jobs. Cape Wind is far too valuable to our state's well-being to allow it to get knocked of course by a last minute stalling tactic.

The Globe's position has sparked quite the Online discussion. Comments range from:

"Enough already. We all had enough. This project has been debated and dissected for how long now, nine years? It's well past time to make a 'decision'. The benefits of this project clearly outnumber any negatives."

...to:

"Wind power should be abandoned. The windmills are a complete eyesore and windpower will never compete with more efficient and reliable sources of energy such as oil, gas, nuclear and perhaps solar."

Read through all the comments on the editorial here, then come back to the blog and post your own views.

Stephen Colbert & Al Gore vs. Stephen Colbert on Global Warming

Last night, Stephen Colbert had a televised debate with himself about global warming. The debate was a stalemate until former Vice President Al Gore showed up!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Formidable Opponent - Global Warming With Al Gore
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Voters Give Menino Four More Years to Turn "Beantown into Greentown"

Congratulations to Mayor Tom Menino for being elected to an unprecedented fifth term as Boston's mayor!

Mayor Menino has done a lot to make Boston more environmentally friendly, and during the campaign he promised to work even harder for a Green Boston:

"Mayor Menino’s substantial portfolio of environmental programming includes a plan to plant 100,000 trees by 2020 through Grow Boston Greener, a goal to expand solar installation to 25 megawatts under the Solar Boston initiative, and increasing recycling in neighborhoods by more than 50% through the Recycle More program.

Mayor Menino knows that green is not only good for our environment, but it saves residents and businesses money and stimulates our local economy.  Through these efforts and more, Mayor Menino is quickly 'turning Beantown into Greentown.'"

Based on these plans, Menino's fifth term should be his greenest. Tell the Mayor how important it is that he keep these promises by leaving a suggestion for him!

Did the candidates' environmental policies impact your vote? Was the environment a hot topic in other races across the state? Let us know by commenting!

Make This A Green Election Day! Remember to Vote!

It's Election Day! Get out there and vote!

When you go to cast your ballot today, be sure to keep in mind the stances of the candidates on the environment, clean energy, and green jobs. If you aren't sure of a candidate's stance on the environment, ask them!

I can't get into all 50 races in Massachusetts in one blog post, but I do want to talk about one we've been paying close attention to here at Environment Massachusetts: the Boston mayoral race. Mayor Tom Menino has been in office for 16 years and is running for an unprecedented fifth term. Challenger Michael Flaherty has been a Boston City Councilor At-Large for nearly 10 years.

The two candidates differ on a wide range of issues, all of which are important are important to consider. Boston residents: please remember to include the environment as a factor when you cast your vote today. Each candidate have their own respective plan to make Boston green:

Mayor Menino:

"For Mayor Menino, a healthy environment is not just a global concern; it is a local necessity.  From landmark public health legislation to pioneer environmental policy, Mayor Menino is making Boston a better place to live, work and play. It may not be easy being green, but that doesn’t stop Mayor Menino. Through his leadership, Boston has shot ahead of other cities as a leader in environmental policy and was recently recognized as the '3rd Greenest City in North America' by Popular Science Magazine."

Councilor Flaherty (scroll down to "Energy and Environmental Policies"):

"As a parent of young children, Michael Flaherty has always been concerned about the legacy that is left behind for the next generation and sees it as our shared responsibility to take aggressive action today to ensure that we have a healthy, sustainable city for tomorrow. Our city has received good marks for its bold energy and environment goals, but now it’s time to put programs and strategies into practice that will make achieving - and surpassing - those goals a firm reality." 

What do you think of the candidates' respective environmental policies?  Did the environment gotten enough attention during the campaign? Tell us what you think by commenting!

Environment Massachusetts Supports the Overhaul of the Clean Water Act

Last week, the Environmental  Protection Agency announced that it would begin an overhaul enforcement of the Clean Water Act. This promise of reform is long past due, as the law is so outdated and full of loopholes that enforcement consistently falls short. Environment Massachusetts is calling on the federal government to protect the public and the environment by strengthening the Clean Water Act.

In an in depth report about water pollution, the New York Times reported that an estimated 19.5 million Americans fall ill each year from drinking water contaminated with parasites, bacteria, or viruses. That's the population of the state of New York.

The Times also reported that chemical factories, manufacturing plants and other workplaces have violated water pollution laws more than half a million times in the last five years. As part of the report, they mapped out the locations of every violator of the 1972 Clean Water Act in the US. Take a look at the map of Massachusetts to find out if you live near a noncompliant facility. The three facilities in the state with the most violations are as follows:

1. East Fitchburg WWTF -- Location: Fitchburg -- Violations: 493 -- Fines paid: $0
2. Mantrose Haeuser Company Inc -- Location: Attleboro -- Violations: 247 -- Fines paid: $0
3. Battle Road Farm WWTF -- Location: Lincoln -- Violations: 230 -- Fines paid: $0
   

Do you live near one of these facilities, or do you see signs of water pollution in your community? Let us know in a comment!

Greenhouse Gasses Right In Front of Your Eyes

When most people think of greenhouse gasses, they think of carbon dioxide spewing out of the tail pipe of a truck, or the smoke stack outside a factory. Greenhouse gasses actually come in many forms from many sources, some of which you might not expect. For example, the computer screen you are looking at right now is probably a source of greenhouse gasses.

Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) is often used in the production of flat-panel displays, thin-film solar panels, and microcircuits. It has been used more frequently the last few years because it was believed to be less dangerous and pervasive than perfluorocarbons, a potent greenhouse gas. However, a team of researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego discovered that this assumption was false in a study completed last year.

As it turns out, NF3 is actually 17,000 times more potent as a greenhouse gas and survives in the atmosphere five times longer than carbon dioxide. The 1997 Kyoto Protocol didn’t cover this gas because there was no way to accurately measure the amount of the gas in the atmosphere until last year's study, so the amount in the atmosphere was grossly underestimated. In fact, there is four times more NF3 in our atmosphere than was originally thought.

In a response to this study and the increased use of the gas in manufacturing, scientists have strongly recommended that NF3 be added to the list of regulated greenhouse gasses. This hasn't happened yet, but it does look like the Environmental Protection Agency is moving in the right direction. Last month, the EPA mandated that facilities that use NF3, as well as other greenhouse gasses, must begin collecting and reporting data on the emissions they release.

Until strict regulations are put in place, there are a number of ways you can help control the release of NF3 into the atmosphere. Make sure you recycle your used flat-screen television and LCD computer displays. Many companies like Apple and Panasonic offer free recycling of their used electronics (Apple even offers a discount on replacement iPods if you recycle your old one!).

Unfortunately, fewer companies in the US offer recycling for used solar panels, but that doesn't mean you should avoid buying them!Research your choices, and find a model that has a low energy payback time, the amount of time it takes the panel to produce more energy than was used to produce it. Most solar panels last 25 to 30 years, which is more than enough time to negate the effects of NF3 it contains.

E-waste and recycling is a big issue, and I’ll be talking more about it in a later post. Until then, comment here and tell us about your experiences recycling/disposing of TVs and LCD screens.

Help the Environment by Changing the Way You Watch TV

Environment Massachusetts is in the midst of a campaign to Repower Massachusetts with clean, renewable energy and reduce energy waste wherever and whenever possible. We all know using too much energy hurts the environment and costs a lot of money, but some of the most significant sources of wasted energy are probably much less well known. A great deal of the energy we waste comes from appliances we use everyday that use more energy than needed.

One of the most significant perpetrators of energy waste can be found in virtually every home in Massachusetts: the television. Televisions alone consume more than 5% of residential energy used in the commonwealth. That translates directly to additional CO2 pumped into the atmosphere, which contributes to both air pollution and global warming.

Global warming advocate Ben Wright has been doing a lot of work lately to pass a bill here in Massachusetts that would help reverse these effects. On Wednesday, he testified before the Joint Committee for Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy in support of House Bill 3124. H 3124 would set energy efficiency standards for a number of household appliances, including televisions, portable light fixtures, water coolers, hot food holding cabinets, hot tubs, compact audio equipment, and DVD players and recorders. Setting these standards is a common sense solution that would reduce CO2 emissions enough to save enough electricity to power 60,000 homes, or take 40,000 cars off the road annually.

This bill, which is already getting national attention, positions Massachusetts to join other states in leading the country toward federal adoption of a standard for all televisions, which is very similar to what we did in 2005. Almost all the appliances covered by the appliance efficiency bill we passed that year now have federal standards We know federal standards work; energy use from refrigerators has declined 45% since the national adoption of a standard for refrigerators.

Of course the best option for preventing energy waste through appliances would be to just turn them off, but that can prove to be difficult in today's constantly moving world. That doesn't mean you have to be left behind on the road to total efficiency; most appliances already have energy-friendly options. For example, there are at least 250 television models at all sizes and price points that meet the standards recommended in the bill.

Help us become an energy efficiency leader in the United States! Contact your state representative and ask them to support the appliance efficiency standards set by H 3124! (Don't know who your rep is? Look it up here.) Let us know what they said in the comments!

Cut Carbon Emissions by Supporting Bike Lanes!

Hey everyone, it’s Darylle again. Environment Massachusetts is always working for cleaner air in our state by supporting legislation to decrease pollution, but all Massachusetts residents have the ability to decrease pollution through their actions.

One of the best direct actions residents can take to help is to use modes of transportation that don't burn fossil fuels, like bicycles.  Bikes are a great way to help the environment, stay fit, and get where you need to go. Unfortunately, it is not easy to take advantage of this option in the city of Boston.  Our office is located in downtown Boston, so we see the difficulties cyclists face everyday. Environment Massachusetts is not working directly on a bicycle campaign right now, but we agree with campaigns run by other organizations, like LivableStreets Alliance, that are working to make Boston more bike-friendly.

Boston was named one of the worst biking cities in the nation three times in the last 10 years by Bicycling magazine. This is not surprising, considering we have only one bike lane in the whole city. This means that cyclists are usually forced with mix with car traffic, which is incredibly dangerous and unhealthy. On top of the risk of being hit by a car (it happened to Mayor Menino last summer!), those on bikes are forced to inhale exhaust fumes for extended periods of time.

It does look like conditions have improved in the last year. Mayor Menino appointed Nicole Freedman as the director of bicycle programs for the city of Boston. She helped oversee the creation of the bike lanes along Commonwealth Avenue. In addition, Bicycling magazine revised its opinion and named Boston a future best city for biking. This is good news for the 5.4% of commuters in the Boston area who bike or walk to work on a regular basis, according to the American Fitness Index.

Contact Boston's biking czar and ask her to help our citizens become healthier and decrease global warming pollution by making Boston more bike-friendly!

Do you ride your bicycle to work or school? How bike-friendly are other communities in Massachusetts? Let us know in the comments!

More Danger from Oceans and Climate Change

In my last post, I talked about negative effects that climate change has on the oceans. What is perhaps even more frightening is the danger the oceans are posing to the land and its inhabitants because of rising sea levels and global warming.

As the planet warms, polar ice caps are melting and glaciers are breaking apart, which is causing sea levels all over the world to rise. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated last year that sea levels would rise by two feet in the next century, compared to one foot in the last century. Two feet over one hundred years may not sound like much, but that increase means a threat of total disaster for at least one country.

The Republic of Maldives, a collection of tiny islands in the Indian Ocean, looks like paradise. However, its 400,000 residents will likely become the world's first population to lose their country to global warming. Maldives' highest point is less than eight feet above sea level, so a sea level increase of two feet would certainly be devastating.  Maldivians got a stark view of what was to come when a tsunami almost completely submerged the entire nation for several minutes in 2004.

This terrifying vision of the consequences of climate change may seem far away to us Bay Staters, but our state is definitely not immune to rising sea levels. The New England Aquarium has a great (but scary!) video showing a simulation of rising sea levels around the aquarium in decades to come. Just click on "Higher Harbor Waters" to see how similar Boston's fate will be to Maldives'.

If we don't want Massachusetts residents to be forced out of their homes by global warming in the future, we need to act now. Sign Environment Massachusetts' petition to ask our senators to support legislation that would help cap global warming pollution!

Are you already experiencing problems with coastal flooding? Let us know by commenting!

The Oceans Need Our Help!

Hi there, my name is Darylle and I’m an intern here at Environment Massachusetts. It’s my job to keep this blog going, so if you have any questions or concerns, just let me know!

During my time here, I’ve had a lot of opportunity to research the myriad devastating effects that global warming is having on this planet. I’ve always known global warming is dangerous, but some of its specific consequences, especially in our oceans, downright shocked me.

Because of global warming, ocean temperatures everywhere are increasing and seawater is becoming more acidic. The toll these changes are taking on living creatures (including our own species!) is pretty scary. The water off the coast of Massachusetts is rapidly becoming so acidic that the shells of lobsters are being destroyed. Soon, they’ll have no choice but to leave the area for safer habitats, which would severely damage the state’s famous fishing industry. And, if seawater is acidic enough to destroy lobster shells, just imagine what it could do to human skin!

Warmer waters are not directly affecting whales, but they are affecting their main food source, krill. Krill often live under sea ice, and as they are dying off as the ice melts. Krill that don’t live under the ice are migrating to cooler water and whales have no way to find them. This has been having a devastating impact on whales’ ability to reproduce.

A few species, on the other hand, are thriving in these warmer waters. Jellyfish seem to be taking over parts of the Atlantic that used to be too cold for them. A few weeks ago, a type of jellyfish that had previously only been found off the coast of California were found living in Scottish waters. Two years ago, a ten-sqaure-mile mass of jellyfish attacked a salmon farm in the Irish Sea and destroyed nearly $2 million in salmon (not that salmon farming is a good thing, but it’s still scary).

It seems crazy that the problems in oceans that cover 139 million square miles are all caused by the types of fuel we’re using in our cars, but that is the harsh reality we face today. The impact that we’re having on an ecosystem we desperately need to survive is seriously making me think twice about my lifestyle and carbon footprint. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to decrease your personal impact on the oceans.

While Environment Massachusetts isn’t campaigning for ocean legislation at the moment, many other organizations here in the state are. The Conservation Law Foundation, which has an office just down the street from us in Boston, is working with lawmakers on Beacon Hill to make sure the implementation of the Massachusetts Oceans Management Act maintains common-sense environmental standards. The work they’re doing is incredibly important, not to mention interesting, so be sure to check it out and keep tabs on their progress.

The New England Aquarium is always working hard to protect ocean life and educate the public about their work. Check out their conservation Website to learn more specifics about climate change and the ocean and what you can do to help!

These organizations are doing great work, but it’s going to take sweeping changes to help our oceans. What are you doing to help? Share your good ideas by commenting!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Environment Massachusetts Blog! Here you’ll find updates on our work, in addition to news about things that interest us as environmentalists. There are many issues we may not work on directly, but are still on our minds and on the agendas of people who share our concerns.

Over the past few years, we’ve been heavily focused on energy and global warming legislation at the state level. I’m happy to say that it’s paid off --mostly-- but the implementation work, the real guts of legislation, still needs to be worked out. This will also be a venue to keep you up to date on that ongoing work.

But most importantly, we want this to be interactive…we have plenty of ways to talk at you, now we want to hear you. Our over-arching belief is that we represent residents of the Commonwealth, and I think we do a pretty good job of stepping in and acting as the voice of concerned Bay-Staters when powerful special interests try to destroy our environment. Your emails and phone calls definitely help to keep our advocacy informed, but more listening never hurt anyone.

Look for updates and ways to get involved here on the blog, and make sure to keep us posted, as well. Over the next few weeks we will be introducing you to our issues, and to our awesome team of volunteers, interns and staff that makes this thing work.

Sincerely,

Ben Wright, Global Warming Advocate

P.S. I’m going to be at the screening of Crude: The Movie at the Museum of Fine Arts in November, comment here if you’ll be there as well.