None Climate Change Press Releases Search All Press Releases Karen Foerstel (703)841-3932 kfoerstel@tnc.org

The Nature Conservancy Applauds Northeast Governors for Joining Historic Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

ARLINGTON, VA — December 20, 2005 — The Nature Conservancy applauds the decision by seven Northeast governors to sign the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a historic multi-state agreement that takes great strides toward reducing carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

“We congratulate the leadership of the governors who have signed on to this landmark agreement,” said Steve McCormick, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “This is a tremendous leap forward that sets an important precedent for future climate change policies in the United States and internationally.”

RGGI will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the participating states using a market-based system at little to no cost to electricity consumers. In fact, this new regional climate accord would improve energy efficiency and could save the typical residential customer about $50 per year, according to analysis sponsored by nine Northeast states.

RGGI places caps on carbon dioxide emissions from electric generation facilities and allows trading of emission reduction allowances to meet those caps. By turning emission reductions into a marketable asset, RGGI creates incentives for companies to invest in emission reduction technologies and gives businesses the flexibility to meet reduction goals at the lowest costs.

Over the past 50 years, The Nature Conservancy has invested billions of dollars in nature conservation across the country and around the globe.  But these investments, as well as those of the federal government and private land owners, are in jeopardy because of climate change.  Changing weather and temperatures patterns could spell the extinction of many plant and animal species, rendering years of on-the-ground conservation work meaningless.

“Climate change, if left unchecked, poses one of the greatest threats to cherished places around the world,” said McCormick. “This regional climate agreement marks progress toward reducing this threat.”

For more information:

• Climate Change 101:
  Learn about Climate Change
  Climate change, commonly known as global warming, is caused by the emission of heat trapping gases produced by vehicles, power plants, industrial processes and deforestation. As these gases build up, they act like a big blanket, over-heating the planet and threatening our health, our economy and our environment.
• Some strategies for alleviating the impact of climate change
  The Nature Conservancy's Climate Change Initiative focuses on three principal approaches: Supporting legislative policies that limit emissions; evaluating the risks to ecosystems; and demonstrating the value of protecting ecosystems.
• More on RGGI
  Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative overview
• Where we work
  Learn more about the places where we are finding solutions to climate change challenges, including Louisiana, North Carolina, the Northeastern U.S., Brazil, the Meso-American Reef, Asia-Pacific and more!