Global Warming in New Hampshire
NH governor signs global warming initiative - 06/11/08
Gov. John Lynch signed a law to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative known as RGGI. New Hampshire will revisit the issue if Congress enacts a federal program. The law took effect immediately.
"With this legislation we are taking a major step forward in protecting our economy and our natural resources by reducing pollution and increasing energy efficiency," said Lynch. "Pollution and climate change threaten our state's environment, our health and our economy."
The law adds New Hampshire to the other New England states, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland in a market-based, "cap and trade" program to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the region's power plants.
Lynch believes joining RGGI will allow New Hampshire to cut the emissions that contribute to global climate change, increase energy efficiency and ultimately help consumers save on energy costs.
Lynch said a warmer New Hampshire would affect the environment which, in turn, could hurt tourism -- a major economic engine in the state.
New Report: Temperatures in New Hampshire on the Rise - 7/24/07
The average temperature in New Hampshire was 2.9 degrees F above average in 2006, according to a new report released today by Environment New Hampshire. Environment New Hampshire said this warmer-than-normal weather is indicative of what New Hampshire can expect with continued global warming.
"Throw out the record books, because global warming is raising temperatures in New Hampshire and across the country," said Environment New Hampshire Field Organizer, Katie Fox. "The long-term forecast is for more of the same unless we quickly and significantly reduce global warming pollution from power plants and passenger vehicles," continued Fox.
According to the National Climatic Data Center, the 2006 summer and 2006 overall were the second warmest on record for the lower 48 states. 2007 is on track to be the second warmest year on record globally.
To examine recent temperature patterns in the United States, Environment New Hampshire compared temperature data for the years 2000-2006 from 255 weather stations located in all 50 states and Washington, DC with temperatures averaged over the 30 years spanning 1971-2000, or what scientists call the "normal" temperature.
Report weighs global warming effects on N.H. economy - 07/20/07
Say goodbye to the cod-fishing industry off Georges Bank. Farewell to hardwood logging in the White Mountain National Forest. Forget about the ski and snowmobile industries in the Granite State. And few tourists would be shopping at Hampton Beach's shops when they are under water.
These are just some of the possible economic effects that would come under the "conservative" global-warming scenarios gleaned from a report released July 11 by the Northeast Climate Impact Assessment, a group of scientists and policy wonks in Concord, and endorsed by New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Tom Burack.
And while it is true that much of the dire scenarios won't take place until well into the century--and only to the full extent if we don't change our carbon-burning ways.
Thom Perkins, the executive director of the Jackson Ski Tourism Foundation said he can already see the effects on the 100 miles of cross-country trails his nonprofit organization maintains in the North Country.
"We are experiencing what they are talking about," he said as he stood watching a, press conference to discuss the report. Already there has been a 50 percent reduction in skiers, partly because the season is starting a month later than usual, and partly because precipitation that used to be snow now comes down as rain.
