Too Little, Too Late, Says Lt. Governor Candidate Duncan About CO2 Emissions Trading Plan

Green Party of New York State
www.gpnys.org

October 19, 2006
Released October 18

Contact: Ann Link 347-226-1195 eastst@hotmail.com

NEW YORK -- "Immediate and comprehensive action is needed to combat pollution and global warming," said Alison Duncan, Green Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor, in response to Governor Pataki and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's announcement of plans for California to trade emissions credits with northeastern states including New York. Duncan described emissions credit trading as a "band-aid on a wound that requires immediate surgery."

"My generation cannot afford to wait until 2020 for results on slowing global warming," said Duncan, referring to California's time goal for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 25%. Duncan is 31 years old. "We face rising sea levels that will flood coastal areas, volatile weather conditions including hurricanes and tornadoes, droughts and wildfires, and many other negative impacts to our health and safety in our lifetime. These will drastically change life as we know it for the next 50 years if action is not taken immediately."

Duncan and Green Party gubernatorial candidate Malachy McCourt support a plan to move the state as quickly as possible to a 100% renewable energy system, including conversion from gas, coal and nuclear power to wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy. The plan would implement time-of-use pricing, net metering, tax incentives and higher energy efficiency standards to promote conservation, and full-cost accounting to reflect the true cost of health risks and pollution from various energy sources such as coal and nuclear.

"Market-driven approaches such as emission credit trading do not require compliance to lower pollution standards by individual companies," said Duncan. "While they may lower pollution overall, they also shift it from one area to another, frequently to low-income areas that lack the political clout to fight it. The only way to ensure a clean environment for everyone is an immediate conversion to safe, renewable energy."

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PEACE SLATE CANDIDATE WEBSITES
Malachy McCourt for Governor
http://votemalachymccourt.org/ 

Alison Duncan for Lieutenant Governor
http://www.alisonduncan.org/ 

Rachel Treichler for Attorney General
http://www.voterachel.org/ 

Julia Willebrand for Comptroller
http://gpnys.org/ 

Howie Hawkins for US Senate from New York
http://www.hawkinsforsenate.org