While tens of thousands of people from all over the world gather in South Africa to wrangle over global environmental issues, a far smaller coalition is meeting quietly this week to ensure that New England governors and eastern Canadian premiers follow through on their promise to combat climate change. The Connecticut Climate Action Group, a member of the New England Climate Action Project, is calling on the regional leaders to take concrete steps toward meeting the goals they set last year, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and eventually cutting such emissions by 75 to 85 percent. Coalition spokesperson Brooke Suter suggested such actions as requiring state agencies to conserve power and use alternative energy sources, and mandating emissions cuts from power plants. She also urged leaders to consider following California’s lead by mandating the use of low-emissions vehicles to reduce greenhouse gases.
