By ANGELA DELLI SANTI, Associated Press Last updated: 9:03 p.m., Friday, July 6, 2007
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New Jersey became the third state in the nation to enact a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction law Friday, requiring the Garden State to significantly cut emissions of global-warming gases.
Al Gore, the former vice president turned environmental activist, was on hand as Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed the "Global Warming Response Act" into law. California and Hawaii have adopted similar laws, and eight other states are considering them.
Passage of these laws can "inspire hope and build the enthusiasm necessary to get this crisis solved," Gore told an enthusiastic crowd of lawmakers and environmentalists who witnessed the bill signing at the Meadowlands sports complex.
"It's great to be able to tell 'em in every country that ... state governments are beginning to take the lead, cities are beginning to take the lead, and citizens of this country are beginning to take the lead," he said.
New Jersey will now be featured prominently in the traveling slide show he uses to teach people about global warming, Gore said.
New Jersey's new law was enacted on the eve of a series of concerts around the world drawing attention to global warming, including one at The Meadowlands in New Jersey that Gore said he would attend.
The legislation requires the state to reduce global warming gases to 1990 levels by 2020, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. New Jersey is the first state to set global warming targets so far into the future, environmentalists said, and the first to require that energy imports adhere to New Jersey's standards.
"This is a very, very important day for the state of New Jersey," said Corzine. "We are making a long-lived commitment today that will impact not just our generation but future generations."
Corzine admonished the Bush administration for lagging behind on global warming, but praised the actions of state governments. He said, "The states are making a difference; New Jersey is making a difference."
Emissions from fossil fuels, such as coal and gasoline, are believed by many scientists to be a leading cause of global warming.
Critics of the New Jersey law argued that it hurts the state's energy industry and that the act contained no specific proposals to lower emissions.
"New Jersey acting alone is not going to solve global warming," said Sara Bluhm, assistant vice president for energy affairs with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, a business group that campaigned against the law.
"Instead of setting arbitrary goals, the governor could do something today to help businesses remain competitive by releasing funds for energy audits," she said, adding that millions of dollars set aside for such audits 18 months ago have yet to be released by the state treasury.
Despite such criticisms, the anti-global warming measure enjoyed widespread bipartisan support in the Legislature.
Under the new law, the Department of Environmental Protection will conduct an emissions inventory, and based on the results, devise a plan to monitor and reduce harmful emissions. The law mirrors an executive order Corzine issued in January.
A study by The Associated Press using 2003 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed that in terms of total emissions of carbon dioxide, New Jersey came in 16th in the country with 123.7 million metric tons; per capita, New Jersey was much lower, in 40th position.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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Tony
July 7, 2007, 7:19am
Guest User
New Jersey should have done this along time ago since the state has a funny smell to it when you drive through the state anyways. I used to be called the armpit of the country just for that reason.
When you drive thru there on I95 the wetlands are filled with toxic chemicals that were dumped into them many years ago by chemical.oil, and other companies b4 environmental laws were passed no wonder it smells funny.
Buenos Aires Gets First Snow Since 1918 By BILL CORMIER, Associated Press Writer Monday, July 9, 2007 Printable Version Email This Article
(07-09) 19:35 PDT BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Thousands of Argentines cheered and threw snowballs in the streets of Buenos Aires on Monday as the capital's first major snowfall since 1918 spread a thin white mantle across the region. Wet snow fell for hours in the Argentine capital, accumulating in a mushy but thin white layer late Monday, after freezing air from Antarctica collided with a moisture-laden low pressure system that blanketed higher elevations in western and central Argentina with snow. "Despite all my years, this is the first time I've ever seen in snow in Buenos Aires," said Juana Benitez, an 82-year-old who joined children celebrating in the streets. Argentina's National Weather Service said it was the first major snow in Buenos Aires since June 22, 1918, though sleet or freezing rain have been periodically reported in decades since. One man stripped to his shorts to welcome the snow. Children scraped snow off cars and threw snowballs. Motorists honked horns, some with small snowmen on their hoods. Some fender benders were reported on slick suburban streets. The storm struck on Argentina's Independence Day holiday, adding to a festive air and prompting radio stations to play an old tango song inspired by the 1918 snowfall, "What a night!" "This is the kind of weather phenomenon that comes along every 100 years," forecaster Hector Ciappesoni told La Nacion newspaper. "It is very difficult to predict." The snow followed a bitter cold snap in late May that saw subfreezing temperatures, the coldest in 40 years in Buenos Aires. That cold wave contributed to an energy crisis and 23 deaths from exposure. Two more exposure deaths were reported on Monday.
Buenos Aires Gets First Snow Since 1918 By BILL CORMIER, Associated Press Writer Monday, July 9, 2007
(07-09) 19:35 PDT BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Thousands of Argentines cheered and threw snowballs in the streets of Buenos Aires on Monday as the capital's first major snowfall since 1918 spread a thin white mantle across the region. Wet snow fell for hours in the Argentine capital, accumulating in a mushy but thin white layer late Monday, after freezing air from Antarctica collided with a moisture-laden low pressure system that blanketed higher elevations in western and central Argentina with snow. "Despite all my years, this is the first time I've ever seen in snow in Buenos Aires," said Juana Benitez, an 82-year-old who joined children celebrating in the streets. Argentina's National Weather Service said it was the first major snow in Buenos Aires since June 22, 1918, though sleet or freezing rain have been periodically reported in decades since. One man stripped to his shorts to welcome the snow. Children scraped snow off cars and threw snowballs. Motorists honked horns, some with small snowmen on their hoods. Some fender benders were reported on slick suburban streets. The storm struck on Argentina's Independence Day holiday, adding to a festive air and prompting radio stations to play an old tango song inspired by the 1918 snowfall, "What a night!" "This is the kind of weather phenomenon that comes along every 100 years," forecaster Hector Ciappesoni told La Nacion newspaper. "It is very difficult to predict." The snow followed a bitter cold snap in late May that saw subfreezing temperatures, the coldest in 40 years in Buenos Aires. That cold wave contributed to an energy crisis and 23 deaths from exposure. Two more exposure deaths were reported on Monday.
Somebody call Al Gore. I think he has to turn up the heat at his mansion, once he flies his private jet there forst, of course...
If you were among the estimated 2 billion worldwide who tuned in to the global music festival Live Earth, then you likely heard the phrase “carbon offset.” It’s a way of reducing greenhouse gases, or carbon emissions. Former Vice President and global-warming town crier Al Gore told The Associated Press that Live Earth would be “the greenest event of its kind, ever.” Electricity at the concert venues were powered by renewable sources. Recycling bins were everywhere. Hybrid and fuel-effi cient vehicles were used to transport music acts when possible. Still, the greenest event of its kind? One hundred fifty acts playing in a 24-hour event from Australia to England? Just how many barrels of oil were used to spread the word of global warming? Western nations and their citizens must be more conscious of fuel and power consumption. But we don’t need conservation dissertations from rock stars, who will have to plant forests each to offset their jet-setting, highconsumption lifestyles. Their message gets lost in hypocrisy. --Kokomo (Ind.) Tribune
Gore, Kerry, Teddy and the rock stars don't want to live by what they preach, they just want us to live green and save the earth while they live in comfort.
Gee...I wonder is any of them actually recyle? Do you suppose they wash out all of their cans and bottles and carry them out to the road like the rest of us hard working low lifes do? And save their newspapers weekly and carry those out to the road like the 80yr old seniors do? Hardly!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Unfortunatly, that is true for the majority who don't have a mind or the common sense to think for themselves!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
If the torrent of water was not bad enough, the surge of ignorant speculation as to its causes has added to the misery of the season. Numerous commentators and supposed “experts” have asserted that the flooding is proof of global warming. Much the same was contended by similar characters about the mild February (remember that?) enjoyed this year. That this flies totally in the face of the mainstream thesis about climate change that Britain will endure wetter winters and drier summers is plainly immaterial. If the weather moves away from the “norm” in any direction, then it must be global warming. One camp that has not joined in this ludicrous orgy of false prophecy is the category that should know the most about the weather, the professional meteorologist. Our weather correspondent, Paul Simons, has pointed out that summer floods do occur in Britain rather often. There were, he outlines, dreadful runs of weather in the 1840s, 1910s and 1950s before the advent of low-cost airlines and quantifiable carbon emissions. There is no doubt that the climate is changing and that the planet deserves the benefit of the doubt, but the members of our contemporary apocalyptic cult do not. This year will be warmer than 1860 was (but probably not as hot as 1560). How much of this is part of a natural cycle and how much due to man-made activities is not an exact science. — The Times, London
Weather has been changing for thousands of years and will continue to change no matter what we do. I really think that clear-cutting tropical rain forests has as much affect as anything in changing our weather. Meteorologists can't accurately predict the weather beyond 7 days and now people think that they can predict the weather 20 to 50 years down the road.
I would be concerned about the immediate problems----sedantary lifestyles, processed foods, animal growth homones, pesticides, herbicides, cannibalism by our cows, chickens, pigs, preservatives, etc etc......the weather will change and humans will adapt,,,,but presently we are 'killing' ourselves to gain profits and produce more to gain more profits and make life "easier".......we are beginning not to see the trees through the forest......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Senders you're so right. the things that you mentioned will kill us a lot faster than the weather ever will. I've worked with pesticides and herbicides and their effects may not show up for years and can be deadly ie, agent orange. Wash all your fruit and vegetables because much of our fruit and produce is purchased from other countries who don't have the laws to control the very harmful chemicals like the USA does.
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