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April 21, 2008

Politicians focus on climate change's threat to species

Surrounded by photographs of polar bears, Narwhal whales and other species whose existence is threatened by climate change, a group of local politicians stressed that federal, state and municipal action is necessary to address the problem.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, state Rep. Art Handy of Cranston and Providence City Councilman Cliff Wood spoke today about global climate change and its effect on endangered species to a small group of environmental advocates in the lobby of the Peerless apartment building in downtown Providence.

The traveling exhibit, which part of the Irreplaceable campaign, is sponsored by Earthjustice, the Noah Alliance, the International League of Environment Photographers, Conservation International and several other environmental groups.

The photographs will be displayed until April 26.

Democrat Whitehouse said endangered species protection legislation he authored has been added to the Lieberman-Warner global warming bill that will hopefully reach the Senate floor before its recess in August.

But stiff Republican resistance in the Senate will likely stall efforts to pass the bill soon. “We are seeing an astonishing amount of Republican opposition,” Whitehouse said.

Supporters of climate change legislation should not lose hope for federal limits on greenhouse gases, Whitehouse said while looking at his watch, alluding to the nearing end of the Bush administration, which has been criticized worldwide for its sluggish response to global warming.

At the state level, Democrat Handy spoke about the Global Warming Solutions Act, a piece of legislation he sponsored.

The bill calls for the same emissions cuts at the federal bill, which is an 80-percent cut of emission levels from 1990 by 2050.

-- Journal environment reporter Natalie Garcia

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 5:15 PM | Permalink

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