Time Range For Action Alert:
March 17, 2023 to March 22, 2023The League is committed to combatting Climate Change. The Connecticut legislature is considering many bills that, if enacted, would improve our situation in Connecticut.
Our Legislative Specialists for the Environment and Climate have identified two bills as the most likely to have an impact if passed: SB1145 and HJ37.
Action:
Please write to co-chairs of the Environment Committee, Senator Lopes and Representative Gresko in support of SB1145 and HJ37. Environment Committee Meetings are scheduled for March 22nd and 24th. The committee must release its Joint Favorable report on any bills they want to be considered by the full state House and Senate by March 27th, so we must act quickly to let them know we want these bills moved forward with the three changes outlined below.
About these bills:
SB 1145 AAC: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SECTOR SPECIFIC SUBTARGETS FOR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS AND REGULATING EMISSIONS OF SMALL-OFF ROAD ENGINES
This bill requires DEEP to establish sector-specific emissions targets to achieve 80% emissions reduction by January 1, 2050. “Negative emissions,” carbon sequestration/removal technologies, would be allowable, but DEEP must ensure that these technologies do not interfere with water quality or induce seismic and earth instability problems. DEEP must also develop a clear path (a roadmap) to reaching emissions goals.
This bill is worthy of our support because:
1) It establishes sector-specific emissions targets to achieve the 80% emissions reduction by January 1, 2050.
2) It regulates emissions from small off-road engines such as portable generators, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc.
We need to push the committee to include the following changes to the bill, recommended by Save the Sound and supported by our climate change specialists:
Establish clear accountability for state agency decision-making that
1) supports the state’s Green House Gas reduction obligations under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA);
2) provides for citizen enforcement of the GWSA; and
3) establishes a Connecticut decarbonization roadmap.
HJ37: RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
This resolution would amend the State Constitution so that:
1) Each person shall have an individual right to clean and healthy air, water, soil and environment, a stable climate and self-sustaining ecosystems for the benefit of public health, safety and the general welfare. The state shall not infringe upon these rights. The state shall protect these rights equitably for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, tribal membership status, gender, socioeconomics or geography.
2) The state, municipalities and any political subdivision thereof, shall serve as trustee of the natural resources of the state, among them being its waters, air, flora, fauna, soils, and climate; and shall conserve, protect, and maintain these resources for the benefit of all people, including present and future generations.
3) The rights stated in this section are inherent, inalienable, and indefeasible, are among those rights reserved to the people, and are equivalent with all other inalienable rights.
Environment Committee Co-Chairs' contact info:
Senator Rick Lopes
email: rick.lopes [at] cga.ct.gov
phone: 860.240.009
Representative Joe Gresko
email: Joseph.Gresko [at] cga.ct.gov
phone: 860.240.0089
Email template to adapt:
Subject: In Support of SB1145 and HJ37
Dear Senator Lopes and Representative Gresko:
I am writing in support of SB1145 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SECTOR SPECIFIC SUBTARGETS FOR GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS AND REGULATING EMISSIONS OF SMALL-OFF ROAD ENGINES and HJ37 RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
[Insert your reasons here]
We want these bills moved forward with the three changes outlined below.
For SB 1145, please include provisions to establish clear accountability for state agency decision-making that:
1) supports the state’s Green House Gas reduction obligations under the Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA);
2) provides for citizen enforcement of the GWSA; and
3) establishes a Connecticut decarbonization roadmap.
Thank you,
[Your Full Name]
[Your City]
