Global Warming

The science on global warming is only becoming clearer and starker. The good news is that Massachusetts passed a law regulating global warming pollution, setting a national and international precedent by moving toward a low-carbon, planet-safe future.

Environment Massachusetts supports:

• Maximizing the benefits of the Global Warming Solutions Act by mandating a 25 percent reduction in global warming emissions; and

• The governor’s plan to adopt a regional low-carbon fuel standard that is technology neutral and considers the full life-cycle emissions of fuel sources.

Environment Massachusetts opposes:

• New fossil fuel infrastructure; and

• Public subsidies for coal gasification technologies.

Clean energy

For years, we have made the case that Massachusetts has the know-how and the resources to achieve major breakthroughs in clean energy. Last session, we laid the groundwork for a new, clean energy future. Now, we have the opportunity to reduce our energy consumption and move Massachusetts to 100 percent local, clean energy resources.

Environment Massachusetts supports:

• Legislation to maximize efficiency from home appliances. When fully implemented, this simple step would reduce residential electricity consumption by 4 percent;

• In cities and towns, adoption of the stretch code for energy efficiency for all new construction;

• Fixing building codes to support the development of solar hot water installation;

• Expanding the Weatherization Assistance Program and other efficiency programs to weatherize 200,000 Massachusetts homes each year;

• The construction of Cape Wind and other clean energy projects; and

• Full implementation of the GREEN Communities Act’s provision to tap all cost-effective energy efficiency measures and promote net metering for local renewable energy projects.

Environment Massachusetts opposes:

• Renewing or extending the permits of old, dirty fossil fuel plants;

• Offering public subsidies to hazardous technologies, such as coal or waste gasification, which would create a net increase in global warming pollution; and

• Lifting the moratorium on waste incinerators.

Parks and open spaces

From the forests of the Berkshires to the beaches on the Cape, Massachusetts boasts a vibrant and diverse natural landscape that gives us a sense of place and contributes to the quality of life that keeps residents here generation after generation.

Environment Massachusetts supports:

• Restoring vital funding for our parks and open spaces cut from 2008’s environmental bond bill;

• Ensuring that funding for the Department of Conservation and Recreation is sufficient to protect our vital state forests and parks; and

• Establishment of minimum stream flow levels for all Massachusetts rivers and streams.

Environment Massachusetts opposes:

• Unsustainable forest management practices, including any unsustainable harvesting done for biomass-fueled power plants.

Toxic chemicals

All Massachusetts residents deserve to live in a healthy environment free of toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, many chemicals released into our air and water, dumped into toxic waste sites in our neighborhoods, and commonly found in popular consumer products are linked to conditions such as cancer, birth defects and childhood asthma.

Environment Massachusetts supports:

• The use of safer alternatives to replace toxic chemicals, which are contributing to an epidemic of chronic diseases and disorders, including asthma, birth defects, cancers, developmental disabilities, diabetes, endometriosis, infertility and Parkinson’s disease.

• Requiring that only healthy cleaning products be used in schools, hospitals, health care facilities, day care centers and public buildings; and

• Restoration of funding for the Toxics Use Reduction Institute.

Clean air

Diesel pollution is making us sick. Studies show that diesel pollution contains more than 40 air toxins, including carcinogens and fine particulate matter. When inhaled, these air toxins have been known to trigger asthma and heart attacks. There is also evidence that diesel pollution causes cancer and respiratory diseases.

Environment Massachusetts supports:

• Phasing in retrofits to all diesel engines operating in the Commonwealth more than 100 hours per year; and

• Fitting every new diesel engine with the most up-to-date particulate-reducing technologies.