PRINTER'S NO. 1595
No. 200 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY VITALI, VEON, M. COHEN, BARD, BEBKO-JONES,
CALTAGIRONE, CURRY, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART,
HARPER, HORSEY, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, LAUGHLIN, LESCOVITZ,
McCALL, MELIO, MICHLOVIC, MUNDY, MYERS, PALLONE, PETRONE,
RUBLEY, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SATHER, SHANER, STABACK,
STEELMAN, SURRA, THOMAS, TRAVAGLIO, WALKO, C. WILLIAMS,
WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 23, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 23, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Providing for development of an inventory of greenhouse gas
2 emissions, for a report on impacts of global warming, for a
3 determination of how existing programs affect greenhouse gas
4 emissions, for development of a strategy for reducing
5 greenhouse gas emissions and for a report by the Department
6 of Environmental Protection summarizing conclusions reached
7 in implementing this resolution.
8 WHEREAS, The scientific community has generally accepted that
9 man-made releases of greenhouse gases are changing the climate
10 in a way that will cause more frequent and severe floods and
11 droughts, intensified storms, rising sea levels, increases in
12 heat stress and vector-borne disease, including malaria, dengue
13 fever and encephalitis, economic dislocation, ecosystem
14 disruption and increased species extinction; and
15 WHEREAS, Recent regional impact analysis of human-induced
16 climate change has found that Pennsylvania will likely be
17 affected by global warming in this century by substantial
18 changes in forest cover, increased risk of droughts and floods,
1 greater threats to already threatened endangered species and
2 cold water fishes, and increased threat of vector-borne disease
3 and heat stress; and
4 WHEREAS, Pennsylvanians release a significant amount of
5 greenhouse gases that, if unchecked, in combination with other
6 releases will likely lead to increased suffering of people
7 around the world and, in particular, the poorest people
8 threatened most by rising seas, increased droughts and floods,
9 storm surges and vector-borne disease; and
10 WHEREAS, Agreements reached in international negotiations on
11 global warming are creating opportunities for Pennsylvania
12 businesses to develop new climate-friendly technologies and take
13 advantage of a growing market in carbon trading; and
14 WHEREAS, Decreases in greenhouse gas emissions will provide
15 other environmental and social benefits, particularly in
16 reduction of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulates and
17 mercury; and
18 WHEREAS, Many states in the United States, including the
19 neighboring states of New York and New Jersey, have developed or
20 are developing state-level global warming programs; therefore be
21 it
22 RESOLVED, That the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
23 Protection (DEP) in cooperation with other State agencies,
24 knowledgeable scientific experts on global warming and
25 interested business and environmental organizations (hereinafter
26 "stakeholders") develop an inventory of greenhouse gas sinks and
27 emissions in Pennsylvania; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That DEP in cooperation with knowledgeable
29 scientific experts and interested stakeholders develop a report
30 on likely environmental, economic and social impacts on
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1 Pennsylvania of global warming; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That DEP in cooperation with knowledgeable
3 scientific experts and interested stakeholders determine how
4 existing State programs are affecting greenhouse gas emissions;
5 and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That DEP in cooperation with knowledgeable
7 scientific experts and interested stakeholders develop a
8 strategy for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions in
9 Pennsylvania; and be it further
10 RESOLVED, That DEP, one year from the adoption of this
11 resolution, produce a report on global warming in Pennsylvania
12 that summarizes conclusions reached in implementing this
13 resolution, including a timetable for developing a strategy for
14 reducing net greenhouse gas emissions. Copies of the report
15 shall be distributed to the members of the General Assembly and
16 shall be made available to the general public.
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