CLIMATE  CHANGE
                                                              Energy & Climate Change in New England
                                                     MITIGATION
    Addressing  Climate   Change
      U.S.  EPA  |  CLIMATE  CHANGE OUTREACH  AT EPA  NEW  ENG
THE   ENERGY  &   CLIMATE   CHANGE  efforts  at
EPA New England include  working with  businesses, federal,  state,
and local  organizations and New England citizens to reduce energy
use by providing tools, guidance and technical assistance for energy
efficiency, cleaner fuels and renewable sources of energy. The goal
of these efforts is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and impacts
of climate change.
INTRO:
Since the mid-1800s, the concentration of carbon dioxide, one of the gases that causes climate change, has increased
in the atmosphere by nearly 40 percent and it continues to increase each year. Climate change in New England brings
higher temperatures, a longer growing season, more extreme precipitation, rising sea levels, less snow cover and more
drought. These changes have created health and economic problems, left the infrastructure vulnerable, and changed
the habitat for the wildlife in the region. We can reduce the harm of greenhouse gas emissions if we use less energy,
cleaner, renewable energy sources and low-carbon fuels; drive vehicles that use less gas per mile and reduce our overall
energy use.
WHAT'S  BEING DONE:
In 2009, EPA found that greenhouse gases pose a threat
to the public's health and welfare. As a result of this find-
ing, EPA is regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean
Air Act and  using a common sense approach to achieve
reductions to protect public health and the environment.

Other EPA activities also aim to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. EPA is promoting voluntary energy efficiency, as
well as the voluntary use of renewable and clean energy to
reduce the emissions of carbon  dioxide and other  green-
house gases. EPA's ENERGY STAR program helps busi-
nesses, governments and  individuals reduce their energy
use by providing information on energy-efficient appliances
and how to assess a building's energy use. In New England,
more than 180 towns representing more than a third of the
region's population, have signed up for EPA New England's
Community Energy Challenge program. Each community
has pledged to reduce its energy use by at least 10 percent

The federal government is investing more than $2.6 billion
each year to  study climate change. In New England, federal
and state agencies as well as regional organizations are
collaborating to study how climate changes will affect the
specific natural resources and economies of this area and
how to adapt to those changes.
The New England states have developed aggressive green-
house gas reduction targets, and programs and polities to
reduce emissions. All six states have prepared climate action
plans, and are part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initia-
tive, which caps  carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel
fired electric  power plants.  Each state has also developed
standards that require more electricity each year to come
from renewable sources. These initiatives, as well as others
in the state climate action plans, will create green jobs and an
economic future based on clean energy.

We can all take action to limit the impacts of climate change
and reduce  greenhouse gas  emissions. Visit EPA New
England's website at www.epa.gov/region1/eco/energy/
what-u-can-do.html, and  EPA's national climate website at
www.epa.gov/dimatechange to learn what you can do to
reduce your  own carbon footprint - at work, at home, at
school and on the road.

Further information is available from Norman Willard at
(617) 918-1812  or willard.norman@epa.gov, or Cynthia
Greene, Manager, Energy & Climate Unit, at (617) 918-1813
or greene.cynthia@epa.gov.
KEY CONTACTS:


NORMAN WILLARD
EPA New England
Energy and Climate Unit
(617) 918-1812
willard.norman@epa.gov

CYNTHIA GREENE
EPA New England
Manager, Energy and
Climate Unit
(617) 918-1813
greene.cynthia@epa.gov


GENERAL INFO:


EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston,  MA 02109-3912
(617) 918-1111
www.epa.gov/region1/

TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-888-EPA-7341

LEARN  MORE AT:
www.epa.gov/region1/
energykit
L               United States
               Environmental Protection
               Agency
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                                                               EPA-901-F-10-027
                                                                 December 2010

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