Leah Veress: Support state legislation to curb carbon emissions

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Published: 11-27-2023 4:04 PM

Modified: 11-27-2023 7:13 PM


This November, the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a congressionally mandated report, came out and warned that even as climate pollution is decreasing, heat-trapping emissions are not falling as rapidly as they need to to effectively mitigate the harmful effects of climate change in America.

The report found that all 50 states will feel the impact of climate change, and every fraction of a degree of warming we can avoid will help protect the most vulnerable Americans from the most severe outcomes.

The report stated that the maintenance of safe homes and healthy families, reliable public services, a sustainable economy, thriving ecosystems, cultures and traditions, and strong communities are all at risk under the current climate crisis. In Massachusetts specifically, the threat of rising sea levels could lead to the loss of historical and archaeological sites on the Boston Harbor Islands.

If new legislation is not passed to help the United States significantly curb its carbon emissions and other highly polluting activities, the entire country, including Massachusetts, could face poor water and air quality, food shortages, and physical dangers posed by extreme weather events.

I urge Massachusetts senators and representatives to support statewide legislation such as the 100% Clean Act (H.3689) which would work to transition the state of 100% clean electricity by 2035, and to 100% clean heating and transportation by 2045, which are designed to help curb statewide carbon emissions and address the climate crisis.

Leah Veress

Northampton

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