By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – When it comes to efforts to reduce global warming pollution, Maine’s environmental score improved to a B-minus, up from last year’s C.

But Mainers have a lot of work to do, because they have the third-highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in New England and eastern Canada, according to a report released Tuesday by a coalition of environmental groups in New England and Canada.

Maine’s higher grade was given because of Gov. John Baldacci’s leadership in pushing Maine’s Climate Plan, a blueprint of how Maine will reduce global warming pollution, said Sue Jones of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, one of the 17 groups in the coalition.

Baldacci and legislators took big steps in adopting the blueprint and passing laws to help reduce global warming, said Jones. The plan will encourage solar and wind power development, conservation, and an increase in the number of cleaner cars sold in Maine by 2009.

Political leadership is crucial for change, Jones said, adding that Maine has “tremendous leadership” in Augusta and Washington, where U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins have influences environmental laws.

That leadership reflects what citizens want, Jones said. “Polling suggests Mainers believe global warming is real and we do have the tools to reduce it.”

Meanwhile, there’s much to do to cut pollution from Maine’s biggest global warming sources: power plants, and especially cars, SUVs and trucks.

Of the 12 New England states and eastern Canadian provinces, Mainers have the third- highest greenhouse emissions per capita, according to the 2005 Report Card on Climate Change Action.

The big reason is that Mainers drive more miles than motorists in other states. That’s because Maine covers a large area and has little mass transportation, said Matt Davis of Environmental Maine. On top of that, Mainers drive more gas-guzzlers, SUVs and pickups. SUVs now make up the majority – 52 percent – of the new vehicles sold in Maine, Jones said.

Other reasons are that Maine’s pulp and paper mills contribute to greenhouse gas emissions; and that most Mainers heat their homes with oil, while natural gas is more common in other states, environmentalists said. The development of more natural gas will help cut emissions, Davis said.

But reducing pollution from vehicles will be tougher, Jones said. “We’re wed to our cars.” Strategies need to be developed to reduce driving through car- and van-pooling, biking, or working from home. “But in some parts of Maine there aren’t a lot of alternatives,” she acknowledged.

Motorists also need to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles, but that transition will take a while, Jones said. Higher gas prices will continue to mean fewer motorists driving SUVs, Jones said.

To reduce power plant pollution, all buildings, from homes to schools to industry, must become more efficient to reduce consumption, Jones said.

“There’s tons of room for improvement,” she said. “Maine has some of the worst housing stock in the nation with poor windows and poor insulation.” Conservation education needs to occur with new home construction among contractors and banks making loans, Jones said.

Maine’s B-minus is about average in the region. Like Maine’s most scores improved over last year. The exceptions were Massachusetts, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Massachusetts’ score went down. Quebec and Nova Scotia remained the same.

The scores came out days before the six governors and premiers meet Aug. 28-29 in Newfoundland to talk about reducing greenhouse emissions. In 2001 the governors and premiers agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010, and reduce regional emissions by 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

To see the report, go to: www.newenglandclimate.org.