Industry lobbyists and Massachusetts climate goals
The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference is underway in Belem, Brazil. There, policymakers and conservationists will seek strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change impacts. Unfortunately the “COP30” is also attended by lobbyists from fossil fuel corporations who seek to hinder any progress that may compromise their maximum profits, regardless of the cost to the environment and humanity.
For those who can’t afford airfare to Belem, you can take comfort in the fact there is plenty of the same human detritus here in Massachusetts seeking to strangle progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the commonwealth despite increasingly violent weather events and soaring electricity costs.
Recently the chair of the Massachusetts House Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE) rammed through an omnibus bill that would make Massachusetts’ 2030 greenhouse gas targets “advisory” rather than enforceable — critically undermining the bedrock of our climate law, would slash Mass Save’s budget by $330 million, and eliminates a new program providing discounts for moderate incomes, and would add incentives for natural gas heating.
Let’s not let these vultures wreak their corruptive influence on climate policy in our state. Call or e-mail your state representative to urge them to reject these rollbacks, or thank them for doing so. And send written testimony in support of H.3547/S.2290 “An Act preventing gas expansion to protect climate, community health and safety.”
Dave King
Amherst