Governor Calls for 80 Percent Carbon Cut by 2050

By Rachel Ward

Rochester, NY – Governor David Paterson has signed an executive order that cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent, over 1990 levels, by 2050.

Judith Enck, Paterson's deputy secretary for the environment, says the administration is "really excited" about the executive order.

"It positions New York to continue its leadership role in the effort to combat climate change. The governor feels very strongly that the scientific debate on climate change is over. Unfortunately, climate change is real, it's happening now, and it's directly impacting New York."

A council, stocked with staff from various stage agencies, is set to prepare a plan for reductions by September 2010, and to examine the goal's economic impacts.

The 80 percent reduction goal is the same as one set by President Barack Obama nationally.

It also matches up with a goal outlined in a state assembly bill. That bill did not get the nod in the senate, but Enck says the governor's executive order is "complimentary" to it.

The deputy secretary says global warming is a pertinent issue for all New Yorkers, especially those who work in the state's agricultural sector. Hot weather even affects cows; during the particularly hot summer of 2005, milk production dropped between 8 and 20 percent, because of the weather.

New York has already signed on to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which requires capping power plant emissions, and auctioning carbon emission licenses.