Greenhouse Gas

New Jersey yesterday became the first state in the nation to set its own target for cutting the greenhouse gases believed to be changing the Earth's climate. "No one else has taken this step," said Robert Shinn, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection. Eighteen states and 14 cities have climate-change programs, but none has gone as far as setting numeric cuts in greenhouse gases. Under the plan, New Jersey would seek to reduce its emissions of these man-made gases by 2005 to about 131 million tons a year, or 3.5 percent less than the 136-million-ton level of 1990.

The United States emitted more "greenhouse gases" last year than ever before, complicating the Clinton administration's voluntary program to cut back on the emissions that threaten to damage the Earth's climate. Almost 1,400 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, the principal greenhouse gas, were released into the atmosphere in 1993, according to the federal Department of Energy. That represented a jump of about 2.5 percent over 1992. "That is the largest amount ever and the first jump since 1990," said Howard Geller, executive director of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

In one of the most ambitious governmental actions yet taken on global warming, Gov. Corzine yesterday signed an executive order calling for his state to dramatically cut its greenhouse-gas emissions. Under the order, New Jersey would cut its emissions to 1990 levels - a reduction of 20 percent - by 2020. It calls for a total 80 percent reduction by 2050. "Today we have taken steps to preserve our planet for our children and grandchildren by adopting aggressive goals for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions," Corzine said in a press release.

New Jersey is poised to take on global warming with a plan that imposes some of the nation's strictest limits on greenhouse-gas emissions. Under legislation overwhelmingly approved last week by the Assembly and Senate, the state would cut its emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent of last year's levels by 2050. The bill would set into law the recommendations Gov. Corzine made in February via executive order and now awaits his signature. The plan puts New Jersey at the forefront of a growing number of states imposing their own global-warming crackdowns while citing an absence of federal leadership.

Climate change is by nature a global problem. So when a Pennsylvania State University graduate student presented Montgomery County officials with a 145-page report on what it could do to reduce greenhouse gases - the culprits in global warming - Commissioner Thomas Jay Ellis was skeptical. Could one county - even one with more people than some states - make a difference in such a huge problem? Ellis and his fellow commissioners decided this month that it could at least try. Montgomery County, which emits more greenhouse gases than more than half the world's nations do individually, thereby joined a burgeoning list of cities, counties and states that have stopped waiting for federal direction on global-warming remediation.

A recent United Nations report is the latest in a stream of compelling evidence prompting politicians of all stripes to publicly acknowledge the seriousness of global warming. It is time for Pennsylvania's elected officials to convert their political rhetoric into action on this issue. On Feb. 2, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report predicting global temperature rises of up to 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit and sea-level rises of up to 23 inches by the end of the century.

By Peter Torrellas The American Society of Civil Engineers recently released its report card on the state of American infrastructure. Frankly, the results aren't good. As a country we received a D-plus, and, in Pennsylvania, the infrastructure merited a C-minus. No other part of any industry in the world is competing and winning with machines, technology, or systems that are even one-third as old as the U.S. infrastructure. The United States is equipped with roads, bridges, and ports from the early to mid-20th century, and pipes and rail lines from the 19th century.

Clearing the air about greenhouse gases will be the focus of a public meeting on Thursday, the Chester County commissioners said in a news release. The meeting will include a presentation from the Chester County Greenhouse Gas Reduction Task Force. The 64-member group was formed in December 2007 to address climate change and recommend ways the county, municipalities, the private sector and individuals can continue to reduce greenhouse emissions, the release said. The meeting will be held in Courtroom One of the historic Courthouse, Market and High streets, West Chester, beginning at 6:30 p.m.    Kathleen Brady Shea

Monday's "GreenSpace" column gave incorrect equivalents in English measure for a new report about eating and climate change. The report ranked foods according to greenhouse-gas emissions per kilogram of food - which is equal to 2.2 pounds. The Inquirer wants its news report to be fair and correct in every respect, and regrets when it is not. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, contact assistant managing editor David Sullivan (215-854-2357) at The Inquirer, Box 8263, Philadelphia 19101, or e-mail dsullivan@phillynews.com .

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday announced $4.4 million in grants to develop infrastructure for natural gas and electric vehicles. The grants, funded by the state's annual utilities gross receipts tax, will encourage the use of alternatives fuels for fleets and transit systems. Waste Management Inc. will receive $400,000 to help pay for a compressed natural gas fueling station in Bristol borough that DEP says will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,238 tons per year.