Bill Text: NJ ACR106 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Governor to call for public and private participation in Earth Hour 2010.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-1)
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-23 - Filed with Secretary of State [ACR106 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-ACR106-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 106
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 18, 2010
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA STENDER
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman JOSEPH CRYAN
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman CRAIG J. COUGHLIN
District 19 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Greenstein, Assemblymen Chivukula, Gusciora, Conners, Senators Lesniak and Bateman
SYNOPSIS
Urges Governor to call for public and private participation in Earth Hour 2010.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution promoting Statewide participation in Earth Hour 2010.
Whereas, Earth Hour is an annual event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, during which people from all walks of life, in communities large and small, simultaneously dim their lights for one hour in order to "cast a vote in favor of action" to combat climate change, and in order to encourage the creation of a more sustainable economic and environmental future for the world; and
Whereas, Since its inception three years ago, Earth Hour has become a global phenomenon, and in 2009, nearly one billion people from a total of 4,100 cities and 87 countries worldwide - including 80 million Americans from 318 U.S. cities - participated in the event; and
Whereas, In addition to garnering extreme support from the worldwide citizenry, Earth Hour 2009 was also observed by several iconic landmarks across the globe, including the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Las Vegas Strip, the United Nations Headquarters, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Seattle Space Needle, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Church of Latter-Day Saints Temple in Salt Lake City, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., the Great Pyramids in Giza, the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Birds Nest and Water Cube in Beijing, the Symphony of Lights in Hong Kong, and the Sydney Opera House; and
Whereas, The World Wildlife Fund has indicated that Earth Hour 2010 - scheduled to take place from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2010 - is expected to generate "the largest call for action on climate change in history," and the organization has urged all 50 U.S. states to participate in this event; and
Whereas, Public support for Earth Hour 2010 has already begun to spread across the nation, with several U.S. landmarks, such as Mount Rushmore, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Montezuma Castle National Monument, agreeing to participate, and several U.S. organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers, the NAACP, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, the American Bird Conservancy, the National Association of Student Councils, the National Honor Society, the National Junior Honor Society, and the National Association of Neighborhoods, pledging to support and promote the event; and
Whereas, Support for Earth Hour 2010 has also been evidenced in New Jersey, with at least two schools, four universities, one city, four organizations, and 10 businesses from the State having already pledged to participate; and
Whereas, The call for participation in Earth Hour is particularly significant, given the recent findings of a 2009 U.S. government report, which showed that climate change has adversely affected every region in the nation by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, heat waves, and wildfires, and by raising sea water levels; and
Whereas, The deleterious effects of climate change are expected to continue and worsen in future years, particularly for coastal communities, which may experience the endangerment of up to $7 trillion in buildings, transportation, and other assets by mid-century if climate change is not properly addressed; and
Whereas, In light of the fact that New Jersey, as a coastal state, will likely be faced with significant challenges arising from projected future increases in global temperatures and sea levels, it is both reasonable and fitting for the State, its citizens, and its businesses, to stand in solidarity with others in this nation, and with those in other nations of the world, by showing support for and participating in Earth Hour 2010, and by encouraging the taking of actions that will effectively curb global warming and help to create a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future for this State, as well as for the nation, and for the world; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey recognizes that significant and detrimental consequences may result from unfettered climate change, and the Legislature supports the World Wildlife Fund's efforts to encourage widespread national and global participation in Earth Hour 2010 and to thereby increase awareness of, and promote beneficial responses to, the problem of global warming.
In order to further the goals of this event, the Legislature urges the Governor to issue a proclamation calling upon all public officials, citizens, and businesses of this State to participate in Earth Hour 2010 by dimming the lights at their respective locations during the hour from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2010.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this concurrent resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and the President of the Senate and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Governor and to Mr. Carter Roberts, President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Wildlife Fund.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution urges the Governor to issue a proclamation calling for Statewide participation in Earth Hour 2010, an annual event sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, during which people from all walks of life, in communities large and small, dim their lights for one hour in order to "cast a vote in favor of action" to combat climate change.
Since its inception three years ago, Earth Hour has become a global phenomenon, and in 2009, nearly one billion people from a total of 4,100 cities and 87 countries worldwide - including 80 million Americans from 318 U.S. cities - participated in the event. Earth Hour 2009 was also observed by several iconic landmarks across the globe, including, among others, the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, the Golden Gate Bridge, the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Great Pyramids in Giza, the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Sydney Opera House.
The World Wildlife Fund has indicated that Earth Hour 2010 - scheduled to take place from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2010 - is expected to generate "the largest call for action on climate change in history," and the organization has urged all 50 U.S. states to participate in this event. Public support for the event has already begun to spread across the nation, with several U.S. landmarks agreeing to participate, and several U.S. organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers, the NAACP, the National Honor Society, and the National Association of Neighborhoods, pledging to support and promote the event. Support for Earth Hour 2010 has also been evidenced in New Jersey, with at least two schools, four universities, one city, four organizations, and 10 businesses from the State having already pledged to participate.
The call for participation in Earth Hour is particularly significant given the recent findings of a 2009 U.S. government report, which showed that climate change has adversely affected every region in the nation by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, heat waves, and wildfires, and by raising sea water levels. The deleterious effects of climate change are, moreover, expected to continue and worsen in future years, particularly for coastal communities, which may experience the endangerment of up to $7 trillion in buildings, transportation, and other assets by mid-century if climate change is not properly addressed.
In light of the fact that New Jersey, as a coastal state, will likely be faced with significant challenges arising from projected future increases in global temperatures and sea levels, it is both reasonable and fitting for the State, its citizens, and its businesses, to stand in solidarity with others in this nation, and with those in other nations of the world, by showing support for and participating in Earth Hour 2010, and by encouraging the taking of actions that will effectively curb global warming and help to create a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future for this State, as well as for the nation, and for the world.
