In response to the Obama Administration putting out a report Tuesday saying climate change is impacting people across the country, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy called for action to limit carbon emissions and ensure climate change is limited throughout the state and the globe.
“It’s clear from the National Climate Assessment that we must strengthen our efforts to reduce the volume of harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere while putting strategies in place to adapt to changes we are going to see as a result of existing levels,” Malloy said in a press release.
Malloy pointed to the state’s efforts such as the Climate Preparedness Plan to protect the shoreline and the Connecticut Institute for Resiliency and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) at the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point Campus to develop ways to combat climate change and treat the problems that already have risen.
“CIRCA will develop strategies and programs to help Connecticut’s residents and communities reduce the loss of life, property, and natural resources from future high impact weather events as well as from sea level rise and flooding,” Malloy said.
Rob Klee, the commissioner of the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, said Long Island Sound water levels and temperatures are rising, 75 species are at-risk or endangered in the state, and 10 invasive species have increased in the state because of the climate change, which put added stress on the ecosystem and the health of residents.
“Changing temperatures and weather conditions will also impact our agriculture products, plant life, and even the variety of trees in our forests, with warmer weather threatening, for instance, to drive sugar maple trees out of our state,” Klee said.
