TU Environmental Reporter Brian Nearing notes on the Green Blog that a bill to cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to avert the worst of global warming is gathering momentum in the Legislature.
On Tuesday, the GOP-controlled state Senate introduced Senate Bill 8390, known as the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Control Act, which would cut the state’s climate change pollution from all sources — cars, trucks, factories, and homes – 80 percent by 2050.
That’s the goal set by a wide variety of scientists and environmentalists to keep future climate change at the lower end of the range.
And the Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Morahan , a Rockland Republican;, is quite close to an Assembly bill on global warming and greenhouse gas cuts that passed back in April
Morahan called his bill “strict” and “science-based.” For all lawyerly types, here is the full language.
A host of environmental groups welcomed the measures, and expressed hope the Senate and Assembly will get together before lawmakers leave for the summer later this month.
“We strongly believe that this is an essential first step toward mitigating the future impact climate change,” said Kathy Moser, Acting State Director, The Nature Conservancy.