The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
State’s environmental leaders praise Biden’s ambition
Environmental leaders from across Fairfield County shared their praise for President Joe Biden’s executive orders on climate change and more in an online forum Friday hosted by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes.
The event highlighted the wide array of actions Biden has taken since taking office just over a week ago. His executive orders have ranged from setting a goal to protect 30 percent of the country’s land and coastal seas by 2030, to reimagining the federal government’s carbon footprint and rejoining the Paris Agreement.
“We strongly believe ... that the only way to tackle this climate crisis is through bold federal and international action,” said Patrick Comins, executive director of Connecticut Audubon Society.
His organization is thrilled by Biden’s early actions on the environment, and Comins said he is hopeful that there will be more in the future.
Himes (D-4th District) told participants that Biden has put forward an ambitious $2 trillion climate plan with a vast array of changes and investments, including a goal of getting the country to 100 percent sustainable electricity by 2035 and a net zero emission economy by 2050.
The migration to sustainable energy is a net job creator, Himes said, but he acknowledged that legislators had to be thoughtful of those who rely on an unsustainable energy system for employment. He added it would be important to help these workers find new types of employment through this transition.
“It’s really important that we frame this discussion right,” Himes said. “Which is the migration to sustainable energy if we do it right is about helping the economy, not hurting it.”
It is important to understand that while Democrats hold a strong position in Congress, it is only by slim margins, he said. And although important legislation might take uniformity to be approved, Himes said he was hopeful that more work could be done to help the environment.
“I always celebrate the fact that we’ve seen a pretty dramatic shift around political census about what to do about climate change,” Himes said. “The bad news is that it has not come nearly fast enough, so we’re way behind where we need to be.”
Aspetuck Land Trust Executive Director David Brant, Sierra Club Connecticut Chair Ann Gadwah, Shelton Land Trust President Joe Welsh, New Canaan Land Trust Executive Director Aaron Lefland, and more also took part in the forum.
“It’s really refreshing to have an administration that’s listening to science,” Gadwah said. “We applaud President Biden for his dedication to tackling the climate crisis and his centering of justice and equity in this executive actions. I think that’s very important.”
Lori Brown, executive director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, said new sustainable and green infrastructure would provide an opportunity to develop new partnerships around jobs, clean energy and the environment.
“That’s also a really important regional effort that’s going to need to be something that we pay close attention to in Connecticut,” she said. “There’s a lot we can do as our New England states work together on that.”
Brown said Biden’s goal to conserve 30 percent of the country’s land and coastal seas is a “game-changer.”
“It finally recognizes natural resources as a huge means — a low-hanging fruit means — to be able to mitigate climate change and the worst impacts that have yet to come,” she said.
The environmentalists said community engagement would be important in pushing legislators to address environmental issues as Biden looks to enact his ambitious plans.
A significant number of residents of Fairfield County understand that climate change is happening and
something needs to be done, Lefland said. But he said that the minority who disagrees on climate change can be very vocal, which can hinder conversation and progress.
“If the majority of us who understands climate change is an important issue, that land conservation is an important issue, start being as noisy as the minority we’ll get a lot more done,” Lefland said.