Climate Change Efforts in Connecticut

1
Climate Change Efforts in Connecticut
Connecticut Campuses for Climate Action
workshop March 28, 2003
Chris James Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection Director, Air Planning
and Standards Division
2
Conference of New England Governorsand Eastern
Canadian PremiersCLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN 2001

• Genesis of the NEG/ECP Climate Change Action Plan
• Governors and Premiers identified climate change
  as a key regional issue
• In Halifax in July 2000, NEG/ECP tasked regional
  environmental and energy agencies with
  development of a climate change action plan
• Climate Change Action Plan 2001 adopted by
  NEG/ECP (and signed by Governor Rowland) in
  August 2001

3
New England Governors/Eastern Canadian
PremiersClimate Change Action Plan

• Short-term Goal
• Reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2010
• Mid-term Goal
• Reduce GHG emissions by at least 10 below 1990
  levels by 2020
• Establish 5-year process, starting in 2005, to
  adjust goals and set future goals
• Long-term Goal
• Reduce GHG emissions sufficiently to eliminate
  any dangerous threat to the climate
• Expected to be 75 - 85 below current levels

4
New England Governors/Eastern Canadian
PremiersClimate Change Action Plan

• 4 Immediate Action Items
• conversion to LED traffic lights
• procurement of environmentally preferable
  products
• greening of state (and municipal) vehicle fleets
• purchase of green power by college and university
  campuses

5

For More Information on the NEG/ECP CCAP

• Resolution 26-4 Resolution Concerning Energy
  and the Environment, August 28, 2001
  http//www.cmp.ca/res/res-26-4-en.html
• Document Climate Change Action Plan 2001
  http//www.cmp.ca/res/ccape.pdf

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Connecticut Climate Change Initiative

• Governors Steering Committee convened - made up
  of Commissioners of
• CT Clean Energy Fund
• Dept. of Environmental Protection
• Dept. of Public Utility Control
• Dept. of Administrative Services
• Dept of Transportation
• Office of Policy and Management
• February 2003 - released report entitled,
  Leading By Example Connecticut Collaborates to
  Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

7
Connecticut Climate Change Initiative

• Currently finalizing statewide GHG inventory for
  years 1990-2000
• Commencing public input process to develop a CT
  Climate Change Action Plan to meet the regional
  goals (complete by Fall 2003)
• Actions required by all sectors
• State efforts to address climate change will be
  posted at www.ctclimatechange.com

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CTs Colleges Universities are Part of the
Solution

• Buy green power / green tags - 20 of total
  campus electricity consumption
• Develop a GHG inventory for your campus
• Use ENERGY STAR benchmarking tool to get a handle
  on power consumption and to track progress of
  energy efficiency measures
• Create ENERGY STAR model dormroom(s) on your
  campus

9
Take Action, Reap Benefits

• Save money
• Promote cleaner air and healthier campuses and
  communities
• Save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  as well as other air pollutants
• Receive recognition
• at May 11-13 Climate Solutions for the Northeast
  conference
• DEP Commissioners Green Circle Award
• Pending national recognition program from EPA?
• Case studies published by Clean Air - Cool Planet