25th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, climate change in the New England states and Eastern Canadian provinces is largely a function of global warming caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, largely emitted by the burning of fossil fuels; and

WHEREAS, global warming poses a threat to fragile ecosystems, particularly to the New England and Eastern Canadian marine and forest ecosystems; and

WHEREAS, global warming impacts the environment and economy of the New England states and Eastern Canadian provinces through changing ocean temperatures and currents, diminished forest health and productivity, increased drought in agricultural areas, more frequent severe storms, and storm surges driven by rising sea-levels; and

WHEREAS, our ability to understand, evaluate, and develop cost-effective reductions to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming depends upon collecting and maintaining accurate and reliable emissions data; and

WHEREAS, the present reality of climate change requires the development of adaptation initiatives in regards to infrastructure, natural resource management, social and economic policy; and

WHEREAS, a combination of regulation, public investment, innovative market mechanisms, and cultural change is required to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, the Province of New Brunswick has offered to host and organize a workshop on climate change;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers agrees that global warming, given its harmful consequences to the environment and the economy, is a joint concern for which a regional approach to strategic action is required; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference directs its Environment Committee and its Energy Committee, in collaboration with the Province of New Brunswick and the Premier's Round Table on Environment and Economy, t

   
1. hold a workshop in the winter of 2000-2001 to examine the regional impacts of global warming; to discuss options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and to clarify the need for this region to adapt to climate change and explore methods for doing so; and    

    

      
   
2. evaluate the conclusions and recommendations of the workshop from a strategic and scientific viewpoint, and to present a summary of findings of the meeting and a recommended action plan to the 2001 annual meeting of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.    

    

      

Adopted at the 25th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, July 16-18, 2000.

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