Promoting Cooperation to Maintain and Enhance
Environmental Quality in the Gulf of Maine

Winter 2001

In August, New England governors and eastern Canadian premiers adopted a Climate Change Action Plan that includes measures to increase energy efficiency in the region, increase the use of renewable energy and decrease the impact of transportation. It also sets the groundwork for exploring a regional system of trading emissions credits for greenhouse gases. The agreement was adopted at the 26th annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in Westbrook, Connecticut. The pact commits signers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010 and by 10 percent below that by 2020. Within several decades, it aims to cut emissions to a level that eliminates threats to the climate, 75 to 85 percent below current levels. See the full agreement, with a link to the action plan, on the conference Web site at www.cmp.ca/res-26-4-en.html.

Standing from left: Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, NH;
Premier Bernard Lord, NB and Acting Gov. Jane Swift, MA..
Seated: Premier John F. Hamm, NS (left) and Gov. Angus King, ME.
Photo: Gale Zucker