BOSTON—This Wednesday,
August 1, Environment Massachusetts, the new home of MASSPIRG’s statewide
environment work, will award Massachusetts State Senator Marc R. Pacheco the
title of Climate Change Champion for his tireless work to tackle what he calls
“the most pressing and complex issue of our time.” The award will be given to
the Senator at 10 a.m. in the conference room of the Southeastern Regional
Planning and Economic Development District office on 88 Broadway, Taunton, MA,
02780.
Pacheco, who hails from
Taunton and represents the First Plymouth and Bristol District, filed and sponsors
the Global Warming Solutions Act (Senate Bill 534), which would translate the
best science available into policy to combat climate change.
“Senator Pacheco has
stepped up in the biggest way imaginable,” said Frank Gorke, Director of
Environment Massachusetts. “His foresight and his dedication have been both
crucial and inspiring.”
Indeed, Pacheco’s efforts
have been fundamental to the cause of fighting global warming in the state. He
was the man, invigorated after training with Al Gore on the former Vice-President’s
Climate Project in Nashville, Tennessee, who pushed to form the new Senate
Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change, and then became its Chair.
He did not stop there.
This Thursday, Pacheco heads down to the Cape for the Committee’s fourth
hearing on climate change and what Massachusetts can do about it. In the
previous meetings, Pacheco has shown himself to be informed and inquisitive.
The Senator has made it very clear that he wants not only to promote his bill,
but also that he wants to hear from experts, advocates, and citizens alike
about how we can all work together to solve this global problem in a local way.
In a speech to staff at Environment Massachusetts, the Senator emphasized the
importance of civic engagement and how each one of us can make a difference.
Which is precisely what
he is doing. The Global Warming Solutions Act would cut the emissions that
cause global warming 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. These numbers come from the
scientists both at home and abroad, who base their numbers on extensive
evidence.
“State government has an
important role in solving this problem,” said Pacheco. “Without federal
leadership on the issue of climate change, Massachusetts needs to be making
bold moves to solve this problem. We should be a leader, not a follower on this
issue.” Pacheco looks to California, Hawaii, and New Jersey, all of which have
passed similar legislation, as he rallies support across the state.
Nevertheless, Pacheco
refuses to rest until he has spread his message as far as he can and encouraged
problem-solving in as many arenas as possible. “My plans for the session are
not only to address climate change and raise public awareness, but also to
investigate new technologies and methods to reduce the state’s dependence on
fossil fuels. I want to… help make the Commonwealth an innovative leader on the
issues and solutions concerning climate change.”
“I
want to see change, not rhetoric,” he concludes.
Environment
Massachusetts applauds Senator Pacheco’s work.
