None The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire Press Releases Search All Press Releases Joel Harrington 603-496-2092, jharrington@tnc.org The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire

The Nature Conservancy Applauds Governor Lynch for Statewide Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Avoid Impacts of Climate Change.

Strategy poised to generate real climate and economic benefits.

CONCORD, NH — March 25, 2009 — Today marks a historic turning point as Governor John Lynch and government leaders announced the release of the state’s Climate Change Action Plan.  The Nature Conservancy commends Governor Lynch and the Department of Environmental Services for their leadership in forging a plan that identifies the essential role nature and finance play in a comprehensive solution for climate change.  As a member of Governor Lynch’s Climate Change Task Force, The Nature Conservancy was an active stakeholder in the creation of the plan, recommending a strong role for forest conservation and carbon offset programs as well as helping communities adapt to the inevitable changes in climate.

“While many details still need to be resolved, this plan is a strong construct that will put New Hampshire on the path of meeting its reduction targets with significant, positive impacts on New Hampshire’s environment and economy,” said Daryl Burtnett, state director for The Nature Conservancy and Task Force member. 

“Strong leadership is needed for the next step – helping to safeguard wildlife from the threats of global warming,” added Burtnett. “While New Hampshire has helped to reduce carbon emissions through the adoption of RGGI, we must also develop strategies to help people and nature to be resilient despite the unavoidable impacts of global warming like warmer temperatures, drought, increased frequency and intensity of forest fires and depleted habitats.”
 

Recent studies show that by 2050, sea level is predicted to rise by one foot and 30 percent of all species will be at a high risk of extinction. Prior planning to manage these impacts is of vital importance.  Conserving the world’s forests—including forests in New Hampshire --is one of the most powerful and cost effective tools we have to fight climate change.

"This plan represents a blueprint to guide the tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. We will have to work tirelessly over the next year,” said Daryl Burtnett. "Some have said that during this financial crisis, we cannot afford to act on climate change. But the truth is we cannot afford NOT to take action. With each year, the scientific and economic analyses become clearer: the longer we wait, the higher the cost and the greater the impacts we will all suffer.”

The Nature Conservancy wants people to know if we act now, there are things we can do to help people and nature.  The Conservancy already working on strategies to adapt to climate change and is calling on leaders to recognize that our natural ecosystems often provide the best, and most cost-effective, adaptation approaches.
 

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.  To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. In New Hampshire, the Conservancy has helped conserve more than 250,000 acres since 1962. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org/newhampshire.