'Global Warming Response Act' Passes Assembly

'GLOBAL WARMING RESPONSE ACT'PASSES ASSEMBLY

(TRENTON) - The Assembly today passed landmark legislation that would make New Jersey the second state in the nation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through an aggressive plan to drastically cut global warming over the next half century.  The bill is sponsored by Assembly members Linda Stender, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Reed Gusciora, Linda R. Greenstein, and John F. McKeon.

"Our state and country have come to a critical juncture on global warming: we can take action now to protect public health and our environment, or we can dawdle and pay a steep price later for failing to act," said Stender (D-Union). "New Jersey has a unique opportunity to be a crusading force in curbing global warming and promoting new technologies and strategies to counteract greenhouse gas emissions."

Global warming - the worldwide increase of temperature that has the potential to cause catastrophic changes to the Earth's ecology and environment - is attributed to the build up of "greenhouses gas" emissions in the Earth's atmosphere.  These greenhouse gases - like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide -are primarily produced from the burning of fossil fuels in industrial facilities and motor vehicles.  Scientists increasingly are finding links between the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and increases in temperature across the globe.

The measure (A-3301) - the Global Warning Response Act -- would require the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the state to be rolled back to at least 1990 levels by the year 2020.  It also would require greenhouse gas emissions not to exceed 80 percent below 2006 emission levels by 2050.

These limits mirror requirements set forth by Governor Corzine through Executive Order No. 54, which calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and further reductions of emissions to 80 percent of 2006 levels by 2050.

To accomplish these goals, the measure would authorize the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct an inventory of the current, 2006, and 1990 statewide greenhouse gas emissions no later than one year after the bill's enactment.

"In light of mounting evidence that global warming is accelerating, we need to ramp up all efforts to curtail rising levels of carbon dioxide and other dangerous gases," said Greenstein (D-Middlesex)

The DEP would further be instructed to establish a greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and reporting program by 2009.  The agency would be required to prepare a report by June 30, 2008, recommending necessary measures to successfully reach the 2020 limit.  A similar report focusing on ways to reach the 2050 limit would be required no later than June 30, 2010.

"This legislation would save New Jersey families and businesses billions of dollars by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing investment in strategies and businesses that develop cleaner energy.
The bill would direct the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to set reduction standards for emissions from commercial sources, along with collecting data on the industries that produce the most greenhouse gas emissions.  The bill previously was modified to eliminate a schedule of fees and assessments that would have been harmful to the state's business community. 

"This is a vital step in protecting our state's environmental resources and the health of New Jerseyans," said McKeon. (D-Essex) "New Jersey's aggressive protection of its resources will help set   a national tone."
This measure mandates the inventing and capping of six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, as well hydroflurocarbons (HFCs) and polyflurochemicals (PFCs) -- products commonly found in household cleaners, water-repellant sprays, insulation, air conditioning, and even inhalers

Stender noted the United States failed to become a partner to the Kyoto Protocol, the United Nations' universal plan to reduce industrial emissions by 25 percent to 1990 levels. Stender said the country is currently only a symbolic partner to the global pact to reduce greenhouse emissions and global warming.

The Assembly passed the measure in a 72 to 8 vote.  The bill went to the Senate, where it was scheduled for further Assembly consideration later in the day. 
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