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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Greg Vitali |
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House passes Vitali global warming bill
Vote one of first to directly address global warming
HARRISBURG, Oct. 31 – The state House of Representatives today passed a measure sponsored by Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware, that would require Pennsylvania to take action on measuring and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. This is the first-ever bill advanced by the legislature directly addressing global warming.
Citing the fact that Pennsylvania is responsible for producing a full 1 percent of the entire world’s greenhouse gases, Vitali said his proposal would lay the groundwork necessary for a plan to address the issue.
“This bill, which has enjoyed broad bipartisan support, would provide a detailed and organized action plan for dealing with the impact of global warming and climate change, and set greenhouse gas standards and a timetable to achieve goals to reduce the state’s contribution to the problem. It is critical for the state to begin formulating a plan right away,” Vitali said.
Vitali’s bill (H.B. 110) would require the state to take a broad look at the issue of global warming by doing the following: inventory the greenhouse gas emissions of various economic sectors in the state, create a voluntary greenhouse gas registry, develop and publish a global warming impact statement for Pennsylvania, and develop an action plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
The bill also would provide state officials with a more complete picture of greenhouse gas emissions by economic sector. If the bill is enacted, Pennsylvania would be the 23rd state to establish a climate change action plan.
“It will allow us to inventory our greenhouse gas emissions and determine exactly how much each sector here in Pennsylvania – industry, government, energy production and so on – is contributing to global warming,” Vitali said. “If we can obtain a good accounting of our greenhouse gas emissions, we can formulate appropriate plans to reduce those emissions.”
The measure also would establish a voluntary greenhouse gas registry that, Vitali said, would allow the Commonwealth to recognize companies that are already acting to limit their greenhouse gas emissions.
Vitali said it is important for the state to significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Leading scientists have warned that the earth’s green house gas emissions need to be reduced by 50 percent to 80 percent by 2050 to keep the impact of global warming at a manageable level.
Vitali’s bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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CONTACT: Mike Storm |