“The decision by China and India to join the Copenhagen Accord is a major advance in the effort toward the goal of a binding international commitment to address global climate change,” said MECEP Communications Director Mark Sullivan. “Climate change poses a potentially devastating threat to Maine’s natural resource based economy and to the quality of life for all Maine people. It’s time for the U.S. to fulfill its pledge in Copenhagen to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 17 percent by 2020 compared with 2005. To realize this goal, the Senate must join the House to pass landmark legislation that addresses both energy and climate change objectives. This legislation should also include targeted, direct consumer relief to mitigate the impact of any increased costs to low-income consumers.”
MECEP is Maine’s leading non-profit research and policy development organization working toward “a prosperous, fair, and sustainable economy; vital communities; rich civic engagement; and a healthy environment.” MECEP cites research by the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute estimating that Maine’s average annual temperature will likely increase by 3-10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century, depending on emission scenarios.
