Thursday, November 12, 2009

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!

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