The urgency of doing everything we can to protect our fragile environment is profound. We are seeing the devastating effects of climate change all across our state, nation, and world, so we owe it to ourselves and future generations to take meaningful action now.
Our governor, under a new executive order, is taking 23 specific steps to reduce our carbon footprint, protect our natural resources, and increase our reliance on affordable clean energy in ways which promote equity, justice, and health.
Some of these initiatives were enacted by a climate bill we passed in a previous session, some were important elements of our transportation climate initiative bill, and some were part of our Environmental Justice bill that we attempted to pass a few months ago in our previous session. I do think it is important to update our definitions so that we are not missing anyone across the state, and I do think it is important that we enable public process and public influence on the ability to prevent an existing polluting "facility" or entity from continuing their activities unless they remediate and adapt. The council does advise DEEP on new incoming polluting facilities and entities but not on existing ones.
The City of Stamford did pass a resolution to pressure the state into implementing an air quality study. This is great news but we do need legislation to also ensure that measures are taken and reform is effective in finding solutions to our incoming infrastructure and existential stresses. Also, we cannot wait to see the new DEEP mobile air quality monitoring vehicle in our EJ communities.
The map below from DEEP represents Environmental Justice communities in and surrounding Stamford. Click the map for a full view of Connecticut.
| While Connecticut is seen as a national leader in enacting climate change and environmental protection legislation, these new actions will only further solidify our state's resolve to do our part in addressing this urgent crisis.
Click the button below to read a summary of the climate change actions to be implemented in the new executive order: |
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