Global Warming Solutions Reports
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Executive Summary
As the new home of MASSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Massachusetts can be contacted regarding this report. Massachusetts could make
major strides toward reducing its emissions of global warming gases over the
next several decades by adopting a series of policy strategies to make the state
more energy efficient and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Adoption of the 14 policy
strategies in this report would bring Massachusetts significantly closer to
meeting its short-and medium-term commitments under a 2001 agreement signed
by the six New England governors and their peers in eastern Canada. In the process,the
strategies would reduce the state 's consumption of energy and position Massachusetts
to make the technological shifts necessary to achieve the long-term goal of
reducing Massachusetts ' emissions of global warming gases to levels that do
not have a harmful effect on the climate.
Global warming, caused
by human-induced changes in the climate, is a major threat to Massachusetts'
future.
• Since the beginning of
the Industrial Age, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide—the leading
global warming gas—have increased by 31 percent, a rate of increase unprecedented
in the last 20,000 years. Global average temperatures increased by about 1°
F during the 20th century, a rate of increase unprecedented in the last 1,000
years.
• The effects of global
warming are beginning to appear in Massachusetts and worldwide. Average temperatures
in Massachusetts have increased by about 1° F since 1895, accompanied by changing
precipitation patterns and other shifts.
• Average temperatures in
Massachusetts are projected to increase by between 1° F and 10° F over the next
century, accompanied by increased precipitation. The results of these changes
could include higher sea levels, degraded air quality, increased heat-related
deaths, and the loss of Massachusetts' hardwood forest species.
Emissions of carbon dioxide—the
leading global warming gas—are on the rise in Massachusetts.
• Between 1990 and 2000,
Massachusetts' direct emissions of carbon dioxide from energy use (other than
electricity) increased by approximately seven percent. Electricity consumption
within the state also increased by about 14 percent.
• Based on adjusted regional
energy use projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Massachusetts'
direct (non-electric) emissions of carbon dioxide could increase by as much
as 28 percent over the next two decades, with much of the increase taking place
in the transportation sector. Electric sector emissions in New England can be
expected to increase by about 35 percent between 2000 and 2020 if the region's
nuclear reactors close at the expiration of their operating licenses to protect
the environment and public health and safety.
Massachusetts could significantly
reduce its global warming emissions by adopting 14 policy strategies and encouraging
other New England states to do the same.
The policies include:
1. Putting increasing numbers
of hybrid-electric cars (and eventually zero-emitting cars such as hydrogen
fuel-cell vehicles) on Massachusetts' roads over the next two decades by finalizing
and implementing the state's clean cars requirement.
2. Adopting California's
forthcoming limits on vehicle carbon dioxide emissions.
3. Requiring the sale of
low-rolling resistance replacement tires that improve vehicle efficiency without
negatively affecting safety.
4. Establishing a “feebate”
program to reward the purchase of more fuel-efficient vehicles.
5. Requiring automobile
insurers to offer pay-as-you-drive automobile insurance in which insurance rates
are calculated by the mile, rewarding those who drive less, while potentially
reducing accidents.
6. Adopting policies that
would reduce growth in vehicle miles traveled by cars and light trucks on Massachusetts'
highways, such as measures to reduce sprawling development and encourage the
use of transit and other transportation alternatives.
7. Adopting the latest commercial
and residential building energy codes to improve the energy efficiency of new
construction.
8. Adopting appliance efficiency
standards for a series of residential and commercial products.
9. Reducing energy use
by increasing funding for energy efficiency programs supported by electricity
ratepayers and creating similar energy efficiency programs for natural gas and
heating oil.
10. Bolstering Massachusetts'
Renewable Portfolio Standard to require 10 percent of Massachusetts' electricity
to come from new, clean, renewable sources by 2010 and 20 percent by 2020.
11. Dramatically expanding
the installation of solar photovoltaic systems on homes and businesses through
direct incentives and new methods of financing.
12. Limiting emissions of
carbon dioxide from electric power plants through adoption of strong state and
regional power-sector carbon caps
13. Reducing government
sector emissions through “lead by example” measures, such as the purchase of
renewable power, increased energy efficiency, and the purchase of more efficient
vehicles for state fleets.
14. Creating a framework
for future market-oriented and/or regulatory responses to global warming through
a regional global warming emission registry
Adoption of all 14 strategies
would achieve significant reductions in global warming emissions while improving
Massachusetts' energy efficiency and spurring the development of renewable sources
of energy.
• Reductions versus
projected emission levels
Adoption of these 14 strategies would reduce Massachusetts' direct (non-electric)
carbon dioxide emissions by about 16 percent below projected levels by 2020.
Adoption of all strategies by all six New England states would reduce electric-sector
emissions by as much as 45 percent below projected levels by 2020.
• Reductions versus regional
goals New England-wide adoption of all 14 strategies would bring the region
as much as 70 percent of the way to meeting the regional global warming emission
reduction goal for 2010 and as much as 60 percent of the way to meeting the
goal for 2020—even with the retirement of several nuclear reactors that
currently provide low-global warming emission electricity at high risk to the
environment and public health.
• In addition, many of the
strategies have benefits that extend beyond reducing global warming emissions
by reducing emissions of other health-threatening pollutants, increasing Massachusetts'
energy security, and keeping jobs and dollars in the local economy instead of
sending money out of state for fossil fuel purchases.
Massachusetts should
seize the opportunity to reduce its emissions of global warming gases.
• Massachusetts should adopt
the 14 measures in this report and investigate other policy options to reduce
global warming emissions, especially with regard to reducing vehicle-miles traveled,
limiting suburban sprawl, and encouraging the development of non-fossil, non-nuclear
sources of energy.
• Massachusetts should continue
to participate in regional efforts to reduce global warming gas emissions, particularly
the efforts of the Council of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers
and the northeastern states' negotiations to establish a regional, power-sector
carbon cap.
• Massachusetts should commit
to achieving the governors' and premiers' long-term global warming emission
reduction goal by 2050 and begin to plan for making the technological and other
changes that will be needed to achieve that goal.
• Massachusetts can and
should reduce its global warming emissions without increasing the use of nuclear
power or extending the life of the state's nuclear plants beyond their current
operating licenses.
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