(HARRISBURG, PA)—Harry Campbell, executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) in Pennsylvania, commended Governor Tom Wolf’s executive action on Thursday that instructed the Commonwealth to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
RGGI is a collaboration between nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by setting caps on total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electric power plants. It also strives to combat climate change.
Of Thursday’s action by Gov. Wolf, Mr. Campbell said:
“Greenhouses gases continue to pose significant threats to our personal and economic health, the quality of our local rivers and streams, and to climate stability. Carbon dioxide emissions know no boundaries. We commend Governor Wolf’s move toward RGGI, as Pennsylvania will be living up to its responsibility to reduce greenhouse gases in collaboration with neighboring states.
“Due to greenhouse gases and climate change, Pennsylvania is expected to experience higher temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, and more flooding over the next century. As the temperature of our local waters continues to rise, so does the vulnerability of aquatic life like brook trout, the Eastern hellbender, and other animal life.
“As rainstorms become more frequent and more intense, so does the concentration and amount of polluted runoff that enters our rivers and streams. More flooding means more potential for loss of life and property.
“RGGI has a proven track record of reducing CO2 pollution and returning billions of dollars to households and businesses in energy bill savings and direct bill assistance.
“To reduce pollution and combat climate change, CBF is proud to coordinate the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, a collaborative effort determined to add that many trees to the Commonwealth by the end of 2025. Reforestation is one of the accepted RGGI practices for carbon mitigation.
“CBF and farmers are also working together to improve soil health which is another important tool for farm profitability, reducing pollution, and sequestering carbon.
“We look forward to working with Governor Wolf and Pennsylvania legislators to affect real change.”
