September 5, 2001—New England governors and eastern Canadian premiers recently approved a Climate Change Action Plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy use, and decreasing the impact of transportation across the region.
The short-term goal is to reduce regional greenhouse gas emissions to at least 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. The long-term goal, which has no specific timeframe, is to reduce emissions to a level that eliminates any dangerous threats to the climate—a goal scientists suggest will require reductions 75 to 85 percent below current levels. The Climate Change Action Plan is modeled on several other successful initiatives undertaken by the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, including efforts aimed at reducing mercury emissions and acid rain.
The full agreement, with a link to the action plan, is available at the conference Web site.
