Press Releases
03/22/2018
Gov. Malloy Hails Committee Approval of Legislation on Climate Change and Storm Resiliency
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy is hailing the Connecticut General Assembly’s Environment Committee for voting to approve a legislative proposal he introduced that will mark a major step forward in Connecticut’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare the state for the ongoing effects of climate change and sea level rise. The committee voted to approve the bill this afternoon by a bipartisan vote of 19-11.
“Connecticut has been leading the nation in efforts to prepare and adapt to the destructive impacts of climate change, and as scientific analyses produce research, we must continue to adapt to these ongoing impacts,” Governor Malloy said. “While a nationwide solution from the federal government would be ideal, we cannot sit back and wait. Together, we can strengthen our climate, energy, and coastal flood management statutes and foster safe planning, prudent investment, accurate mapping, and safety for our citizens.”
“Today’s vote clearly illustrates that here in Connecticut taking real action to address climate change is a bipartisan issue,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee said. “I look forward to this bill’s passage by the House in Senate in the coming weeks, so that our children and grandchildren can look back upon our generation and be thankful that we took the necessary steps to address climate change.”
The legislation is Senate Bill 7, An Act Concerning Climate Change and Resiliency. The bill:
- Implements an interim target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent from a 2001 baseline by 2030 as recommended by the Governor’s Council on Climate Change.
- Updates current statutory references to sea level rise to reflect the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation’s (CIRCA) planning recommendation of nearly two feet by 2050.
- Requires all future state projects located in the Coastal Boundary that are either undertaken by a state agency or funded by a state/federal grant or loan to meet CIRCA’s projections.
- Updates Connecticut coastal boundary maps to move the boundary landward distance represented by the approximate two feet in sea level rise.
**To read Governor Malloy’s full written testimony in support of this bill, click here**
The Governor stressed that this bill is just one component of these efforts. He is also urging the legislature to adopt Senate Bill 9 (An Act Concerning Connecticut’s Energy Future), a companion bill to Senate Bill 7 that takes bold action in the development and deployment of affordable, clean energy. That bill is currently pending in the Energy and Technology Committee, where it is anticipated to receive a vote in the coming days.
Senate Bill 7 next moves to the floor of the Senate for consideration.
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