Bill Text: NJ AR267 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges NJ Governor to support Paris Climate Accord goals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-06-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [AR267 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-AR267-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Urges NJ Governor to support Paris Climate Accord goals.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Governor of New Jersey to support the goals of the Paris Climate Acord.
Whereas, The Paris Climate Accord, also known as the "Paris Agreement," is a landmark international agreement reached in 2015 between 195 countries aimed at reducing carbon emissions, slowing rising global temperatures, and helping countries deal with the effects of climate change; and
Whereas, The Paris Agreement, agreed to by nearly every country in the world, is the first global pact aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to avert the worst effects of climate change; and
Whereas, The Paris Agreement, unlike previous pacts, requires every country to take action to lower greenhouse gas emissions rather than differentiating between developed and developing countries; and
Whereas, Under the Paris Agreement, every participating country agreed to submit an individual plan to tackle its greenhouse gas emissions and to report regularly on its emissions and progress made in implementing and achieving its nationally determined contributions; and
Whereas, President Trump's announcement that he is withdrawing the United States from this landmark agreement will seriously weaken global efforts to avoid drastic climate change; and
Whereas, The climate change caused by rising global temperatures will likely: increase the frequency, severity, and duration of heat waves, creating a greater risk for heat-related illnesses and deaths, especially among the elderly, very young, disabled, and poor; increase the intensity of hurricanes creating stronger peak winds and increased rainfall; increase the risk of flooding within storm-affected areas and increase the risk of drought in areas located outside storm tracks; and continue to decrease the size of polar ice sheets and land-based glaciers, causing sea levels to rise and contribute to enhanced coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and the loss of coastal wetlands; and
Whereas, In response to President Trump's announcement of his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, the Governors of California, New York, and Washington as well as over 100 mayors, 80 university presidents, and hundreds of business leaders have announced plans to continue to meet the Paris Agreement's greenhouse gas emissions targets and redouble efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses; and
Whereas, A bipartisan group of Governors from Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont, have announced their intention to join the efforts of the Governors of New York, California, and Washington to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement; and
Whereas, Given the devastating effects of rising global temperatures, it is critical that New Jersey join in the efforts to maintain this country's commitment to the Paris Climate Accord in order to globally reduce carbon emissions, slow rising global temperatures, and help countries around the globe deal with the effects of climate change; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Governor of New Jersey to take a leadership role in protecting the citizens of New Jersey and the United States, the environment, and the planet from the devastating effects of climate change by continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of New Jersey, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the President and Vice-President of the United States, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution would urge the Governor of New Jersey to take a leadership role in protecting the citizens of New Jersey and the United States, the environment, and the planet from the devastating effects of climate change by continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord.
