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Leading the Way to Address Global Warming (2004)


The International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), a group sponsored by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Organization, representing more than 2,000 leading climate scientists, predicts an average temperature increase of 5-9ºF by 2100, although a wider range is possible. To put this number in perspective, only about 9ºF separates the world at the beginning of the twenty-first century from the world at the end of the last Ice Age, more than 10,000 years ago. While the consequences of global climate change for our health and environment are wide-ranging and severe, there are solutions that can be used today which are simple and sensible. That's why MASSPIRG worked with other environmental, public health and religious groups to urge Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to adopt a strong Climate Action Plan.

As a result of a broad based effort, the Massachusetts Climate Protection Plan unveiled by the Governor in May of 2004 outlines a comprehensive roadmap for achieving reductions of global warming pollution from the electricity and transportation industries, as well as from the government sector. In follow-up to the regional climate change agreement signed by the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in August of 2001, the Massachusetts plan sets the following in-state goals: reducing global warming emissions from current levels to 1990 levels by 2010; reducing another 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020; and ultimately reducing emissions by 75 to 85 percent long term.

Key policy highlights include:

  • Finalizing the state's clean car requirement and supporting California's forthcoming limits on vehicle carbon dioxide emissions;
  • Reaffirming the state's commitments to promotion of renewable energy and to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the "Filthy Five" power plants;
  • Leading by example: greening the operation of state properties and reducing the state's energy use 25 percent by 2012;
  • Enhanced carbon pollution reporting requirements for public projects;
  • Commitments to address emissions from the air traffic sector; and
  • Commitments to press states and provinces throughout the region to move forward with clean car requirements and stringent appliance efficiency standards.
The broad-based coalition, which advocated for such a plan lauded its release, and is now working to ensure aggressive implementation in order to meet the overall goals. As the plan is further developed, the coalition, including MASSPIRG, will be pressing for clear tracking of the reductions achieved from each program to ensure the combined reductions meet the goals comprehensively.