41st Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

RESOLUTION 41-2 – RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP) adopted in 2001 a regional Climate Change Action Plan, which presented a clear long-term vision for regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions;  

WHEREAS, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers have demonstrated by their policies and actions that they continue to take a lead role in addressing the issue of climate change through a regional perspective in their state and provincial action plans;

WHEREAS, the ongoing regional work on climate change focuses on energy use and distribution, transportation emissions, maintenance of a GHG inventory, and adaptation strategies;

WHEREAS, the region exceeded its first regional GHG target in 2010 by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels while increasing its regional Gross Domestic Product, and furthermore, the region is on track to meet its 2020 regional GHG reduction target;

WHEREAS, the governors and premiers adopted in 2015 a regional reduction marker range for 2030 to reduce regional GHG emissions from 35-45% below 1990 levels, and also tasked their officials to review and update the regional Climate Change Action Plan;

WHEREAS, the NEG-ECP Climate Change Steering Committee (CCSC) and the Committee on the Environment (COE), supported by sector working groups, have identified a set of possible regional actions that offer pathways for the jurisdictions to accelerate the reduction of GHG emissions in the region;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the governors and premiers adopt the updated regional Climate Change Action PlanBuilding on Solid Foundations, and tasks its committees to take steps to implement possible regional actions identified in the update; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the governors and premiers assert the importance of adaptation by considering climate change impacts in their planning and decision-making processes, in an effort to increase the region’s overall resilience; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the governors and premiers direct the COE to further advance regional discussions and collaboration on adaptation and report back to governors and premiers on their work.

Adopted at the 41st Annual Conference of New England Governors and Canadian Eastern Premiers, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, August 28, 2017.