Challenge

to reduce

emissions


Once again, Maine does it first.

The Pine Tree State is the first to adopt a law setting goals for the reduction of global warming emissions.

When signing the law, Gov. Baldacci said it “paves the way for others to join us in a responsible approach to address the risks of global warming.”

It paves the way, certainly. But will others join us?

Maine’s brave step to set these goals is a lonely one. It might even seem futile, given the political strength power companies and other polluters have to skewer regulation.

It must be how former Sen. Edmund Muskie felt pitching the Clean Air Act to Congress and fighting the automobile industry lobby.

Maine environmentalists do not see this law as the solution to curb emissions, but as a tool to push similar measures across the country.

Maine will develop a climate change action plan to reduce carbon dioxide levels in the next seven years to match levels recorded in 1990. In 17 years, a plan must be in place to lower emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels. Eventually, the plan will require CO2 reduction by as much as 80 percent below 1990 readings.

There is good reason to set these goals.

Maine has the highest rate of adult onset asthma in the nation. It has some of the highest ozone readings in the country, and smog is a fact of summer life here. The rising number of people suffering from respiratory disease diminishes quality of life.

Maine has accepted its responsibility to reduce pollutants that contribute to respiratory difficulties, but we shouldn’t expect other states to quickly mimic these strides, especially since the federal government does not seem to understand the gravity of guarding our climate nor seem willing to hold polluters responsible for their emissions.

The Bush administration is so blind to the danger that an entire chapter on global climate and warming trends was deleted from a recent Environmental Protection Agency report on the nation’s environmental health.

The federal government’s seeming willingness to ignore the threat of climate change makes it more important for individual states to prod along change. At the same time, Mainers as citizens of a nation that now favors industry polluters over individual health must push Congress to follow our daring lead.


The fast lane


Automobile fines have doubled. Police are cracking down on speeders, at toll booths and on country roads. It’s easy to be irritated, but motorists have only ourselves to blame.

Police are targeting speeders because too many people drive too fast. If officers didn’t need to devote time to enforce speed limits and traffic rules they wouldn’t. Police have plenty of other work to do.

How many times have we seen drivers slow down as they pass police cars, only to speed up once they’re out of radar range? Plenty. That’s why police are adding more speed traps.

Speed limits are set by highway departments to control traffic safely. When we violate those controls we should expect police to take notice.
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