Permanent protections for New York horseshoe crabs cleared a major hurdle during the last days of the 2024 state legislative session, passing both the state Senate and Assembly on June 7.
Sound Bites: CT needs faster adoption of EVs, state watchdog says
Connecticut has made progress to protect its land, water and air over the last decade — but struggles to control greenhouse gas emissions that worsen climate change, according to the Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality. A report from the state watchdog blames the transportation sector for the emissions increase last year. The Council recommends a faster adoption of electric vehicles, less fuel consumption, and more use of public transit.
New Grants Advance TNC's Mission in Connecticut
'Protect Whales': 20 Groups Call For More Federal Protections, Funding
EPA data shows 2021 had fewer toxic chemical releases in Connecticut
NY pulls objection to dredging deposits at site by Fishers Island
NY groups, municipalities receiving millions to combat Long Island Sound pollution
$10 million funds 41 community projects in the Long Island Sound watershed
Officials Blast Decision Allowing Dredge Spoil Dumping In LI Sound
Federal appeals court rules in favor of EPA plan to extend open water disposal sites in L.I. Sound
$31M in federal funding to clean up, restore Long Island Sound
A year later, Biden's offshore wind goals experience a Northeast tailwind
Last year, 2021 set the pace for the United States to develop offshore wind in the Atlantic Ocean. The Biden administration wants America to generate 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.
A year later, there was a flurry of development offshore in New York and Connecticut. Because New England’s offshore winds are speedy and steady, with shallow waters, the region is ideal for the future of America’s offshore wind.
Ghost Fishing, Nitrogen Pollution, Rubber Debris Targeted in Local Efforts to Clean Up the Sound
Twenty years ago, rising water temperatures, nitrogen pollution and disease wiped out the lobster population in Long Island Sound.
Lobstermen picked up and left, in many cases leaving their traps behind.
But on the floor of the Sound, tens of thousands of traps are still working, catching the few remaining lobsters along with other species.
It’s called ghost fishing.
Announcing CCE’s 2021 Connecticut Environmental Champions
Celebrate CT’s elected officials that have led the way in protecting our environment and public health!
CCE is excited to announce our 2021 Connecticut Environmental Champions! We take pride in recognizing legislators who have demonstrated a real commitment to protecting our precious natural resources and our health. This year, we are proud to announce four legislative champions who have led the fight for clean air, clean water and environmental justice in Connecticut:
State Senator Christine Cohen (12th Senate Dist.) is the Senate Chair of the Environment Committee and the lead advocate for progressive environmental policy in the Senate. She led the fight on several important victories in Connecticut in 2021, including modernizing the CT Bottle Bill, restricting toxic PFAS in food packaging, and passing critical updates to CCE’s signature “Sewage Overflow Right-to-Know” law.
State Senator Matthew Lesser (9th Senate Dist.) is a long-time supporter of strong environmental protections and has helped advance multiple CCE priorities, including a bill to ban toxic fracking waste coming into Connecticut. In 2021, Sen. Lesser spearheaded the effort to pass first-in-the-nation legislation to combat climate change by divesting Connecticut’s insurance accounts from firms that insure the fossil fuel industry. This makes Connecticut a national leader in efforts to reduce climate emissions, discourage investment in dirty fossil fuels and promote clean energy technology.
State Representative Brandon McGee (5th House Dist.) is a lifelong community advocate, fighting for the rights of low- and moderate-income families across Connecticut. He understands the intersection of environmental justice issues and health inequities that impact our most vulnerable populations. In 2021, he facilitated community conversations on important environmental justice issues, was an outspoken supporter of the Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI), and he established an Equity Commission to study the impacts of racism on public health.
State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (136th House Dist.) is the House Chair of the Public Health Committee. Rep. Steinberg has been a strong supporter of Connecticut’s environment through the years, having led the fight to pass a comprehensive State Water Plan for Connecticut in 2019. As chair of Public Health, Rep. Steinberg was the first to introduce legislation restricting toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in food packaging and prohibiting the use of PFAS-treated firefighting foams that contaminate our water and threaten our health.
Protecting our environment is a full-time job. These legislators have proven themselves to be steadfast advocates for their communities and our shared environment. CCE applauds these lawmakers for their efforts to safeguard our state’s air and water resources, address health inequities, and promote good environmental policy in Connecticut.
These legislators are true leaders in our state, and we are proud to present them with our 2021 Connecticut Environmental Champion Award!
Thank you for taking a moment to recognize our champions. Together, we make a difference!
Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE
Connecticut Needs a Cleaner, More Equitable Transportation System
Tell lawmakers in Hartford to cut transportation emissions that harm our health and contribute to climate change!
The impacts of climate change are increasingly apparent in Connecticut and across the globe. Climate change is increasing the severity of hurricanes, drought, heat-related deaths and illnesses, and causing rising sea levels that inundate our coastal communities. Without immediate action, climate change will cause devastating effects on Connecticut’s infrastructure, economy, public health, and way of life.
The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Connecticut, accounting for roughly 38% of GHG emissions generated in our state. We cannot address the climate crisis without cutting pollution from the transportation sector!
Transportation Emissions Threaten Public Health in CT:
CT ranks as the 10th worst state for smog, which can cause premature death, aggravated asthma, and increased respiratory symptoms.
CT’s asthma rate is worse than the national average: 11% of children and 10.5% of adults have asthma in CT.
Rising temperatures due to climate change are exacerbating these health risks, by increasing smog and prolonging dangerous air conditions.
Tailpipe emissions led to an estimated 367 premature deaths in CT in one year.
CT Must Take Action to Slash Emissions from the Transportation Sector
Under the proposed Transportation and Climate Initiative Program (TCI-P), CT would cap carbon pollution from transportation fuels and invest in our communities to provide better, cleaner, and safer transportation options. In less than a decade, TCI-P will guarantee at least a 26% reduction in carbon emissions from transportation. The TCI-P would also require oil companies to pay for the pollution their products cause, which will allow for needed investments in a clean transportation and public health improvements. A minimum of 50% of revenue will be invested in communities that are overburdened by air pollution or underserved by the transportation system. Projects that the TCI program include, but are not limited to:
✔︎ Improving/expanding public transit in urban, suburban, and rural areas
✔︎ Converting school and transit buses and diesel truck fleets to cleaner electric models
✔︎ Promoting safer, more bike-friendly and walkable communities
✔︎ Providing rebates to make electric vehicles more affordable
✔︎ Expanding EV charging infrastructure
✔︎ Expanding local air quality monitoring
Thank you for taking action!
Sincerely,
Your Friends at CCE
Connecticut's Ban Prohibits Single-Use Plastic Bags. So Walmart Is Using Thicker Ones.
Environmentalists call thicker Walmart plastic bags an attempt around new law
Walmart rolls out thicker ‘reusable’ plastic bags in response to Connecticut’s single-use plastic bag ban
A statewide ban that took effect last week was intended to eliminate single-use plastic bags from Connecticut’s checkout counters, but in response, Walmart has begun offering thicker plastic bags.
The bags, which the retail giant bills as sustainable, reusable up to 125 times and recyclable, are not prohibited under the plastic bag ban, because of their thicker weight. The State Department of Revenue Services defines single-use checkout bags as “bags with a thickness of less than 4 mils” — the thickness of the new Walmart bags. However, environmentalists say regardless of the weight, plastic is a real threat.