Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Empowering Communities, Advocating Solutions.

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CAMPAIGNS

Climate Change

Fight Climate Change!

The science is clear that human activities are contributing to global climate change, and urgent action is needed. While local and state governments are working to reduce emissions, a coordinated federal approach is critical for the United States to transform our behavior, energy use patterns, and economy to meet the challenge of the climate crisis.

What is Climate Change?

Climate Change, or global warming, is the increasing average annual global temperature and is caused by the build-up of unnatural amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG), like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). Burning fossil fuels, including coal and oil, emits greenhouse gases that build up to trap heat and warm the lower atmosphere. Approximately 80% of global CO2 emissions are due to fossil fuel combustion.

Today, dramatic changes in climate are occurring throughout the U.S. and across the planet. Impacts from climate change include increasing intensity of storms, severe droughts, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. Our oceans, bays, and estuaries are getting warmer as well, which contributes to the creation of more intense hurricanes and tropical storms. Additionally, these water bodies trap carbon and as they warm, the chemistry of our oceans also changes (see figure below). In fact, oceans have already experienced a 30% increase in acidity from pre-industrial levels, putting many marine ecosystems at risk.

The Global Ocean and Climage Change.

How is Climate Change Affecting New York and Connecticut?

New York enjoys nearly 10,000 miles of coast, including Lake Ontario, the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island Sound, the Finger Lakes and Lake Erie, while Connecticut has over 600 miles of coast, largely on or near Long Island Sound. Connecticut and New York’s geography leaves us particularly susceptible to the damage from rising sea levels. Studies by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that a 1-foot rise in sea level could occur along the Atlantic Coast as early as 2025!

The EPA estimates that barrier beaches could suffer extensive damage from sea level rise and coastal storms. The direct impacts of sea level rise include beach erosion, complete loss of beaches, increased flooding, loss of ecologically important wetlands, and saltwater contamination of drinking water on Long Island. Tourism and commercial and recreational fishing will be negatively impacted. It is estimated that sea level has already risen 10 inches in New York in the last century. Today, many of our coastal beaches suffer from severe beach erosion.

Documented in Climate Change in the U.S. North East, the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment, scientists estimate that the water levels in the Great Lakes could fall as much as ten feet within the next century, while sea levels rise. Lower water levels in the Great Lakes could lead to a loss of habitat for wildlife and reduced energy generated by clean hydroelectric facilities in Niagara Falls. The report also found that summers could be similar to those now experienced in the South. The full report is available at www.northeastclimateimpacts.org.

There ARE Solutions!
Climate change can seem overwhelming, but understanding how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the best way to combat climate change. Both individual and collective actions help curb climate change. More than 160 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty to reduce global GHG, which the United States government has not signed, however, 900 U.S. cities passed resolutions showing their support.

Tell Congress and President Obama to Address Climate Change Now!
By reducing GHG emissions and preparing adaptation plans to address changes already underway, we can tackle the climate crisis.  A strong, coordinated federal approach is necessary to achieve meaningful GHG emission reductions economy-wide. The proposed legislation (HR 2454) makes several positive steps including: regulating emissions from all-fossil fuel based energy; providing incentives for energy and water efficiency; requiring the production of renewable energy; and adaptation measures to prepare our communities for climate change. This is a good start, but Congress needs to hear from you! The legislation cannot include public subsidies for nuclear power or coal.  In order for us to have real solutions to climate change our Congressional representatives need to know that you support aggressive action for protecting our food and water. 

What You Can Do:

Write your Senators, Representative, and President Obama:

  1. Tell them why addressing climate change is important to you.
  2. Tell them you support addressing climate change in HR 2454- The American Clean Energy Security Act.
  3. Tell them you support a mandatory cap on climate change pollution and a polluter-pay system.
  4. Tell them you oppose public subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear power.
  5. Ask for a response and how they will address your concerns.
  6. Remember to include your name, address, and email address in your letter!

Please send a copy of any response you receive to CCE’s Farmingdale Office—it helps us track progress on the issue. Thanks!

Write to:
Honorable Representative Name
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Write to:
Honorable Senator Name
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Write to:
President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC. 20006

Not sure who your representative is?

To find out who your Representative is and write to them, please visit:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/

To contact your Senator visit: www.senate.gov

To contact President Obama, visit: www.whitehouse.gov/contact

After writing Congress, answer the Climate Crisis call-to-action!

  • Calculate your carbon footprint (www.carbonfootprint.com) and then work to reduce it.
  • Be energy efficient! Use CFLs and LEDs in your home instead of incandescent light bulbs. Turn off the lights when you leave the room, use Energy Star appliances, and unplug appliances when not in use.
  • Walk, bike or use mass-transit instead of driving and flying! Cars and airplanes are a major source of increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas. If driving, practice fuel efficient driving (a.k.a.“hypermiling”) by driving the speed limit, properly inflate car tires, and reduce excess weight.
  • Purchase renewable energy! Renewable energy is clean emission-free energy, such as wind and solar power.
  • Learn more! Click here for CCE’s climate resource center.

Click here to view CCE's comments on the EPA's GHG Endangerment Finding, June 23, 2009.

Click here to visit CCE’s Green Levittown Page to learn how we partnered with Nassau County and several “green” businesses to reduce the carbon footprint of Levittown, America’s first suburb, by 10 percent. This historic project will pave the way for other communities to “go green.”

Click here to view CCE's comments to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation on the NY Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Draft Rule (Part 242 – CO2 Budget Trading Program), December 21, 2007

Click here to view CCE's comments on New York's Draft Rule for implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, March 13, 2007

Click here to view a memo submitted by CCE to the United States Congress on Federal Energy Policy, January 16, 2007

Click here to read a press advisory released by Westchester County about the first meeting of the Westchester Global Warming Task Force comprised of government, business, education and environmental representatives, including CCE, January 4, 2007 (PDF format)

Click here to read CCE's comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Jamestown Coal Project, December 7, 2006 (PDF format)

Updated by epepper 6/24/09