2-26-07

Walpole to Vote on Climate Change Warrant Article

By Chuck Bingaman, Contributing Writer

          Walpole citizens, sparked by the efforts of Jill Robinson, gathered enough petition signatures to add a warrant article for next month’s Town Meeting vote to prompt local, state and national politicians to act decisively to combat global climate change.

Other Area Towns Voting as Well

          Walpole is, in fact, one of nearly 200 towns in New Hampshire, including Acworth, Alstead, Charlestown, Westmoreland and Keene, to have the same warrant item up for vote. 

          The full text of the Walpole warrant article is as follows: “To see if the town will go on record in support of effective actions by the President and the Congress to address the issue of climate change which is increasingly harmful to the environment and economy of New Hampshire.  There actions include: 

1.     Establishment of a national program requiring reductions of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while protecting the U.S. economy.

2.     Creation of a major national research initiative to foster rapid development of sustainable energy technologies thereby stimulating new jobs and investment.

In addition, the Town of Walpole encourages New Hampshire citizens to work for emission reductions within their communities, and we ask our Selectmen to consider the appointment of a voluntary energy committee to recommend local steps to save energy and reduce emissions.”

          “We think there are at least two important purposes of the warrant item,” said Ms. Robinson.  “First, it makes the issue of climate change a subject of local consciousness and conversation. And, second, it sends a message to all of our government leaders—current and future—that climate change is a pressing issue that must be addressed in whatever ways we can.  It’s particularly important in New Hampshire because of the leadership role we play in the Presidential primaries.”

          The article and its placement on the warrant of many  Granite state towns are the work of the Carbon Coalition, a joint effort by the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Society for the Protection of Hew Hampshire Forests, and Clean Air-Cool Planet. 

NH Climate Stakes

The Coalition is a non-partisan group of individuals and organizations that have agreed that the country needs to commit to an energy policy that includes significant reductions of carbon dioxide emissions and the use of renewable resources.  Full information on the Coalition is at www.carboncoalition.org.

New Hampshire has much at stake if climate change continues unabated, according to the Coalition, including the likelihood of costly damage to the state’s shoreline, diminishing air quality, and enormous damage to the state’s tourism and outdoor sports economy should winters continue to moderate as they have over the past few decades.  In the past decade, according to the Coalition, 18 ski areas have had to increase snowmaking at a cost of over $24 million.  In addition, moderating winters are projected to phase out sugar maples, the source of the NH maple syrup industry and to greatly diminish autumn colors, the source of much tourism revenue.

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