Global Warming in Connecticut
Momentum Builds for Bike Friendly Union Station - 06/25/08
The New Haven Register reports today that the city has received a $10,000 grant to improve bicycle access at Union Station, and also has submitted a federal funding request for $145,000 for on-street dedicated and shared bike lanes connecting Union Station to Downtown New Haven and neighborhoods to the south and north of the city, which themselves have bike routes planned to connect with other sections of New Haven.
The funding requests and grants also contain provisions for improved bike storage. Improved bicycle routes and parking at Union Station would not only provide improved efficiency for commuters, but would also potentially have a major impact on the city's economic development, public health and traffic safety, as bicycle lanes also tend to calm traffic, promote walkability, raise real estate values, increase bicycling use, help citizens save millions of dollars per year in commuting costs, and promote local retail districts.
They could also have an impact on suburban areas, by making the land near train stations on Metro North, Shoreline East and the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield line more valuable.
The extra effort to spend money on transportation other than driving vehicles is making Connecticut a state that believes it can lead the way in going green.
New England Must Act Now to Reduce Global Warming Pollution - 03/26/08
Global warming has the potential to disrupt New England's environment and way of life. Coastal flooding, smoggier summers, the loss of reliable ski seasons, threats to the region's vibrant fall foliage displays, and a host of other impacts could result if global warming pollution worldwide continues to increase.
Recognizing the danger, in 2001 the New England governors and Eastern Canadian premiers adopted a landmark commitment to reduce the region's emissions of global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2010 and to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.
An analysis of global warming emission data for 2005, the most recent year available, holds both good news and bad news for the region.
The bad news is that New England is not on track to meet the targets for global warming pollution reductions set by the New England governors in 2001.
Emissions were 8 million metric tons (carbon dioxide equivalent) greater in 2005 than they were in 2001. Indeed, New England is significantly farther away from achieving the governors' goal than it was when the commitment was originally made.
'The Warming of Connecticut brings global warming issues to Wilton - 11/04/07
The film spoke about some of the effects global warming might have on Connecticut in the coming years. For instance, a study was done of what temperatures could be expected in Hartford if fossil fuel emissions continue at their current rate versus if emissions were cut back.
Today, there are on average two days over 100 degrees in Hartford. In 100 years, if fossil fuels are emitted at the current rate, there will be 28 days over 100 degrees, whereas if emissions are cut back, there will be eight days over 100 degrees, according to the film.
But the trouble goes beyond hot weather. Mr. Wake said "Greenland could disintegrate over the course of the next 50 to 100 years. It's not outside the realm of possibility." He said if that happens, oceans would rise 20 feet, which would lead to hardship for Connecticut cities such as New Haven or Bridgeport.
In addition, one can offset fossil fuel emissions through supporting forests that are used to trap carbon dioxide. Connecticut has also taken the lead in trying to combat global warming through such measures as mandating stricter emission standards on new cars.
