This is the first in a series of two reports that were generated after the election. The Newtown BeeI was invited to the 22nd Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Environmental Summit.
The 22nd Environmental Summit hosted by Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Education Fund took place virtualy on January 25 and 27. The event was held prior to the 2022 State Legislative Session, which opens February 9.
Lori Brown, CTLCV Executive Director, welcomed everyone and shared that the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters works together with advocates and elected officials from all parts of Connecticut to fight for stronger laws protecting our environment.
This summit is an annual event that identifies the state’s major environmental challenges and highlights some of the legislative or administrative solutions being considered.
It is also a chance for the public to learn more about the issues, and join advocates leading the way with solutions.
Brown explained that the two-day event would feature information about climate change, protecting forests and farmlands, investing in clean energy and natural resource, and reducing pollution from waste, transformation, pesticides and other pollutants.
She stated that we are currently in a climate emergency and that the state must invest in communities equally.
Brown stated that the summit was dedicated to Julie Belaga who founded the CTLCV. She died November 19, at the age of 91. Former Chair of CTLCV Ken Bernard spoke about Belagas legacy, and her positive impact on the environment.
State Funding Panel
The summit launched into its State Funding Panel. Denise Savageau, Environmental Planner, was chair of the CT Council on Soil and Water Conservation. Eric Hammerling, executive Director of CT Forest and Park Association, and Robert LaFrance were also on hand.
Savageau said that the federal government has been flooding in a lot of funding to Connecticut. She said that the American Rescue Plan Act (also known as the COVID Act) has $6 billion available to Connecticut for funding clean water and safe drinking waters projects.
Savageau stated that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill is another big bill that was passed.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act covers green infrastructure and climate resilience.
Paterson spoke about Connecticut’s goal to preserve 21% of its land base by 2023.
She said that the state is not on track to achieve this goal. According to the Connecticut Council on Environmental Qualities 2020 Annual Report (CCEQ 2020), the state would need 19,500 acres of land conservation over three years to reach 21%.
Paterson added, To put that into perspective, the state has averaged 795 acres of land conservation per year over the past ten-years. If we want to achieve the state’s goal, land conservation must be our top priority. However, it is not as prominent as in other New England States.
She then displayed a graph from the Wildlands and Woodlands Report, comparing Connecticut to other New England state in terms combined state and federal per-capita public funding of land conservation. Connecticut ranks last in comparison to New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine.
Paterson stated that funding levels are not sufficient to meet demand.
Hammerlings presentation emphasized the state’s inability to keep up with public interest in outdoor recreation.
Despite a steady increase of park visitors for more than a ten years, the state park staffing has declined since the 1980s.
He explained that since parks, campgrounds or nature centers are managed with people power, it is not possible to remotely manage them over the past two years. This has led to park supervisors, keepers, and seasonal [workers]They were front-line workers during the pandemic and interacted with the public, who have been getting outside in record numbers for their well-being and health.
Hammerling also notes that 45% of Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), environmental protection employees are eligible for retirement July 1, and many are leaving earlier than that because state pensions are being cut.
LaFrance expanded on Hammerlings talk by looking at Special Act 2123, which was recently enacted in the General Assembly regarding staffing and resources for DEEP.
He mentioned that although the department has historically been underfunded, the Environmental Conservation Police continue to be given greater responsibility.
They are the ones who take care us. We must support them, LaFrance stated.
Environmental Justice
The Environmental Summit’s next event focused on environmental justice. It was led jointly by Geraldo Reyes, a State Representative from Waterbury, as well as Bobby Gibson, a State Representative who represents Bloomfield, Windsor, and other states. They are also chairperson and vice-chair, respectively, of both the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus.
They offered insights into how the state invests in projects and how resources should be distributed equally to all communities.
Reyes stated that he works for communities of color that are severely underserved. He also noted that Waterbury is still affected both by poor air quality and water quality as well as contamination lands.
He stated that while people may be able to see that millions are being allocated for projects, the distribution of those dollars is opaque and should be fair.
Gibson also mentioned that the Hartford area has a large trash plant right next to communities of colour.
It is difficult to see and understand that there are many inequalities in health care, particularly when it comes to asthma rates rising in an area where the most vulnerable people need clean air.
They spoke out about the importance of environmental justice legislation and environmental education.
Climate & Clean Energy
Experts discussed topics like Connecticut’s Global Warming Solutions Act, efforts towards ending fossil fuel expansion, how energy efficiency programs can be bolstered, how to remove any obstacles to solar energy, as well as a Climate Agenda.
It was led Leah Lopez Schmalz (Vice President of Programs for Save the Sound); Samantha Dynowski (State Director of the Sierra Club Connecticut); Mark Scully (President of Peoples Action for Clean Energy); Amy McLean (Senior Policy Advocate and Director at Acadia Centers Connecticut office); and Nathan Frohling (Director of External Affairs at The Nature Conservancy).
Schmalz stated that Connecticut is not on track for meeting its greenhouse gas reduction goals. There are also a number provisions in the Global Warming Solutions Act.
DEEP’s most recent data revealed that we are not on track for meeting any of those mandates. They were actually, in some sectors, above the 1990 baseline. This means our trajectory is on a downward trend and not the upward trend. It is really affecting our residents, she said.
Schmalz states that there should be updates to the Global Warming Solutions Act.
Dynowski agreed that Connecticut is a far cry from other states in the region in terms of meeting its goals. It should also stop expanding its use of natural gas and embrace renewable energies such as solar energy.
Scully joined the conversation by stating that outdated regulations were holding back community and commercial solar. It should be expanded to reap the many benefits it offers in Connecticut.
McLean focuses on the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund. This fund supports all energy efficiency programs and initiatives. It is funded through surcharges on customer electric gas bills, regional greenhouse gas emissions proceeds, and other sources.
She stated that while most people don’t know that it exists, everyone contributes to it. She encourages everyone call Energize CT for a home energy assessment.
Frohling discussed how he would bring all this information together in order to get the job done.
He presented the Climate and Energy Legislative Priorities report, which can be found at the Environmental Summits webpage.
It was the collective efforts of the 20 organizations that signed the document that made it possible. Frohling said that the document includes 24 legislative measures that are important for Connecticut’s climate agenda. These measures will benefit all Connecticut residents.
It provides a common path forward to address the key areas of concern and who is available for assistance to make progress.
Environment Committee
Day one of the CTLCV Environmental Summit was concluded with the Environment Committee Priorities Talk.
State Senator Christine Cohen (State Representative) and State Representative Joe Gresko (Cochairs of the legislatures Environment Committee) led the conversation. They discussed the priority legislation that is being considered for the session of 2022.
Cohen stated, “We are currently working on a clean-air initiative that we believe will really help our environmental justice communities. Our residents. [and]Our sea is important.
She also mentioned that there is a bill to ban Expanded Polystyrene (also known under the name Styrofoam). It also addresses concerns about microplastics, and the intentional release balloons.
Gresko said, “I expect us to pick up some of the bills which were left out last year.”
Brown closed the program by saying, The last session was an excellent way to end our last day… Thank you again for joining me today.
Stay tuned The Newtown BeeThe next issue of the print edition will be published on February 18, and will feature the second day at the Environmental Summit. You can watch the summit videos or access resources from the discussions by visiting conservationeducation.org/summit.html.
Reporter Alissa Silver can be reached at [email protected]
Amy Paterson, Executive Director of Connecticut Land Conservation Council, shared a graph that compared Connecticut to other New England States in terms of combined federal and state per capita funding of land conservation at the Environmental Summit on January 25, 2015. Connecticut ranks last among New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Maine.
Eric Hammerling, Executive Director of Connecticut Forest and Park Association, presented a chart that showed how state park staffing has declined over the past 20 years despite an increase in park visits.