N.J. Enacts Anti-Global Warming Law

(AP)  New Jersey became the third state in the nation to enact a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction law Friday, requiring the Garden State to significantly cut emissions of global-warming gases.

Al Gore, the former vice president turned environmental activist, was on hand as Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed the "Global Warming Response Act" into law. California and Hawaii have adopted similar laws, and eight other states are considering them.

Passage of these laws can "inspire hope and build the enthusiasm necessary to get this crisis solved," Gore told an enthusiastic crowd of lawmakers and environmentalists who witnessed the bill signing at the Meadowlands sports complex.

"It's great to be able to tell 'em in every country that ... state governments are beginning to take the lead, cities are beginning to take the lead, and citizens of this country are beginning to take the lead," he said.

New Jersey will now be featured prominently in the traveling slide show he uses to teach people about global warming, Gore said.

New Jersey's new law was enacted on the eve of a series of concerts around the world drawing attention to global warming, including one at The Meadowlands in New Jersey that Gore said he would attend.

The legislation requires the state to reduce global warming gases to 1990 levels by 2020, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050. New Jersey is the first state to set global warming targets so far into the future, environmentalists said, and the first to require that energy imports adhere to New Jersey's standards.

"This is a very, very important day for the state of New Jersey," said Corzine. "We are making a long-lived commitment today that will impact not just our generation but future generations."

Corzine admonished the Bush administration for lagging behind on global warming, but praised the actions of state governments. He said, "The states are making a difference; New Jersey is making a difference."

Emissions from fossil fuels, such as coal and gasoline, are believed by many scientists to be a leading cause of global warming.

Critics of the New Jersey law argued that it hurts the state's energy industry and that the act contained no specific proposals to lower emissions.

"New Jersey acting alone is not going to solve global warming," said Sara Bluhm, assistant vice president for energy affairs with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, a business group that campaigned against the law.

"Instead of setting arbitrary goals, the governor could do something today to help businesses remain competitive by releasing funds for energy audits," she said, adding that millions of dollars set aside for such audits 18 months ago have yet to be released by the state treasury.

Despite such criticisms, the anti-global warming measure enjoyed widespread bipartisan support in the Legislature.

Under the new law, the Department of Environmental Protection will conduct an emissions inventory, and based on the results, devise a plan to monitor and reduce harmful emissions. The law mirrors an executive order Corzine issued in January.

A study by The Associated Press using 2003 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed that in terms of total emissions of carbon dioxide, New Jersey came in 16th in the country with 123.7 million metric tons; per capita, New Jersey was much lower, in 40th position.

[erasmus6]

the_quietman

"But these "blame humanity" people are the ones in denial."

I can see you are like "erichsh". You are one of those people when you here any criticism or blame the old ear flaps close. It couldn't possibly be YOUR fault!

You would rather take the chance that your kids or grandkids won't be suffering rather than just do your part to help fix a problem whether you believe it to be real or not. I guess as long as your life is ok, why worry about your kids futures, eh? After all you will be dead by then.

[erasmus6]

bigal1321321

Predicting the day to day weather has NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!

[the_quietman]

"Cleaning up" is not a bad idea, I'm a conservationist myself. But these "blame humanity" people are the ones in denial. The earth has been much warmer for most of it's existance with the EXCEPTION of glacations. We are re-entering a warm period and there is NOTHING that you or anyone else can do to change it. We could all stop using technology and consuming energy and not make a dent in the warming process. For humanity to survive we need to accept this and plan for a hotter climate.

[bigal321321]

Do NOT misunderstand me, I am all for protecting the environment. But Global Warming is nonsense. Let's do a reality check. Is climate and weather the same thing? If you agree that this is a true statement then consider this. Current weather technology can NOT reliably predict weather for more than 10 days in advance. What makes you believe that technology or any sort (including computer models, ***-in, ***-out) can predict weather 100 years in the future? Apply logic instead of emotion. There is nothing wrong with protecting the environment. But politised science has usually been wrong. Talk to someone who is in their 80's about eugenics. You'll start to get the drift.

[erasmus6]

erichsh

"(c) it's all our fault."

That is what it is REALLY all about isn't it?
You are one of those people that can't stand anything being YOUR fault. I know someone like you. They can't handle any kind of criticism, they are always right and NOTHING can possibly be their fault. Well it is our fault. Get over it. We are the ones puking toxins into the air and water. Surely you can't actually believe that we can keep doing these things without there being major consequences do you?

We may have had some things going on in the past but they are nothing compared to now. You just don't like someone telling you what to do. You would rather live in denial until it is too late.What the hell, you will be dead by then anyways, right? What if you are wrong? Global warming or no global warming, our planet needs a major clean up and wouldn't it be better to be safe than sorry?

[erasmus6]

SharnCedar

Still obsessed with celebrity I see.

[erichsh]

Here in New York City the glaciers covered the ground to a depth of over a mile a scant 20,000 years ago. It was called the "Ice Age". All those glaciers retreated way back into far north long before us evil humans started polluting the earth.

I happen to believe that energy conservation, oil conservation, etc. are all good things, that the world oil supply is very limited and should be used sparingly, that the US should not be held hostage to foreign oil. What I resent is this rush to judgement that (a) global warming is happening, (b) it's a worldwide crisis and the earth is imminently doomed, and (c) its all our fault. It is established fact the the earth has gone through cyclical climate changes over its lifetime. The word "believe" (as used by erasmus6) is NOT the same as demonstrable fact, established and proved by rigid science. Notwithstanding the science aspect, the laughable hypocricy of the global warming political/entertainment leftists, in terms of how they conduct their own lifestyle, just further discredits their purported cause.

[sharncedar]

I got a bit giddy from laughter, I watched a lot of the "Live Aid" with a liberal who was eating it up, dewy eyed. It was really, really funny, like some kind of skit from SNL. Boring, wooden Al Gore appears and gives his droll comments, telling us about some long-winded "pledge" that the kind of morons who watch these things can't possibly remember. Then the stars, these ego balloons, these fatuous lousy fame-seekers, come on and do their lousy songs. Alicia Keyes comes on and the liberal tells me sotto voco that she is "really amazing" and all I can see is her fake, plastic surgery nose. Real authentic. She sings the typical song of the modern star, something about me, me, me, me, watch me, buy my tunes on iTunes, invite me to the party.

Even the stars seemed to parodying themselves, with a campy attitude showing they don't care less about whatever the cause was (what was it anyeay, something about cleaning up the planet, or was that the laundry commercial).

It was really, really funny. Sure was hot today though.

[erasmus6]

SharnCedar

I have noticed that you have a lot of nutcases living in your country also, you being one of them. Your post doesn't even make sense.

The only thing I got from your post is your obsession with celebrity. I have noticed that about your country also. That and politics.

[sjc_1]

I think the right wing "commentators" on here are actually trolls sent by the GOP to stir things up a bit.

They look at every thing like Watergate as just one big fraternity prank. They don't lie, it is just their opinion. They do not commit crime, it is all just a good natured prank.

Libby did not obstruct justice and cover for his evil task masters, he just had a vague memory...and on and on.