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June 16, 2008
The same week the Senate was headed for a much-anticipated debate on federal legislation addressing global warming — then abruptly dropped the ball — Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed into law a bill that sets rigorous caps on greenhouse-gas emissions in Connecticut.
"An Act Concerning Connecticut Global Warming Solutions" was signed by Mrs. Rell with little fanfare. Yet it puts Connecticut among a small coterie of states tackling an issue the federal government has largely ignored.
The Connecticut law sets a mandatory statewide cap on greenhouse-gas emissions of 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050. Those goals are in line with what scientists say must be achieved if the world is to avoid the harshest consequences of climate change.
The law also requires state agencies to develop regulations that will fundamentally affect the way energy is used by every sector of Connecticut's economy: utilities, businesses, governments — even homes. The state Department of Environmental Protection is charged with monitoring progress and keeping the state on track.
Connecticut and a handful of states won't solve global warming. But by laying the groundwork for change now, they are putting themselves ahead of the curve.
Members of Congress say that last week's debate failure of the federal climate change bill was a small but important step toward a national approach to the problem. We hope that's true. But while Congress is still setting the table, Connecticut and other states are moving on to the first course. |
