Item: A landmark report from a United Nations’ scientific panel this fall painted a picture of climate change effects more dire than previously thought and urged transforming the world’s economy at a speed and scale that has “no documented historic precedent.” The report describes a world of worsening food shortages and wildfires, and a mass die-off of coral reefs as soon as 2040.
Item: A separate U.S. government science report this fall asserted that the current effects of climate change — including deadly wildfires, more devastating hurricanes and heat waves — are worsening. The report’s authors, from numerous federal agencies, say they are more certain than ever that climate change poses a severe threat to Americans’ health and pocketbooks, as well as to the country’s infrastructure and natural resources.
These scientific alarms contrast to the actions of our federal government, where some leaders in Congress and certainly in the Oval Office, have expressed doubt about global warming as a manmade phenomenon that threatens the world’s eco-systems, let alone the urgency to head off its most dire impacts.
So, what are we to do? Think globally, act locally, we are told. And as 2019 opens, thankfully, we are seeing some of the urgency from the scientific researchers at the world and national levels reaching into the Massachusetts Statehouse — not that one blue state can save the world. But someone has to lead and set an example, and we all need to do our part.
What we heard this month was the new Senate president, Karen Spilka, telling a gathering of environmental advocates that nothing the Legislature does in the next two years will be as important as addressing climate change.
While the Democratic leader didn’t prescribe specific actions the state can or should take, she described a “real sense of urgency” on Beacon Hill to tackle climate change. That should be encouraging to all those activists, and the rest of us, as we all will have to live with the consequences of changing our climate.
Spilka asked the activists in the room to step forward with “smart, practical, implementable ideas,” and we hope that they do.
Environmental League of Massachusetts President Elizabeth Turnbull Henry said she was “really bullish on what is possible” at the state level.
Henry said ELM supports Gov. Charlie Baker’s attempt to help organize a regional cap-and-trade program for vehicle emissions that would band as many as eight Northeast and mid-Atlantic states into a coalition similar to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is focused on power plant emissions.
She said the advocacy group would also be focused on making sure the second planned procurement for offshore wind energy stays on schedule.
Spilka said nothing should be considered more important than addressing climate change.
“If we don’t take care of that, we don’t have to worry about education and transportation because our coastal cities will be flooded,” she said, standing on a padded bench to speak to the room.
There will be costs and opportunities in fighting climate change. In some cases, trying to mitigate the damage and adapt to lower-carbon economies may produce new jobs and investment, offsetting impacts of legacy fossil-fuel related industries.
Henry said the new program for vehicles that Baker is pursuing with other governors has the potential to “unlock a lot of funds” that could be invested in adaptation programs.
ELM and other groups are also seeking budgetary increases for key environmental agencies, including $6 million more for parks and almost $2 million more for the Department of Environmental Protection.
Spilka said she believes Gov. Charlie Baker and House Speaker Robert DeLeo both recognize the importance of taking action on climate change, but the question is whether they can agree on what needs to be done.
“The world has changed. So I’m cautiously optimistic that something will be done that will move the ball down the field,” she said.
We were encouraged to hear the new Senate leader put climate change at the top of her agenda. We know the Franklin County and North Quabbin region’s forward-thinking legislators generally support climate change mitigation, and we hope that Spilka, House Speaker DeLeo and the state’s other legislators will follow through.
Time is running out.