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Governor Ned Lamont's budget proposal advocates using $5.75 million in ARPA funds to support statewide resiliency and climate preparedness. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: CT General Assembly must act on climate bills

Connecticut's General Assembly is weighing several climate change bills. It comes after what advocates describe as detrimental inaction on the …

The Environmental Protection Agency finds neonicotinoids could jeopardize more than 200 plants and animals protected by the Endangered Species Act. (Adobe Stock)

CT lawmakers water down bill addressing toxic pesticides

A Connecticut bill would have restricted toxic pesticides called neonicotinoids - or so it seemed. The bill's newest iteration, some experts feel…

A 2021 Yale School of Public Health report found energy security is a top priority for low-income communities facing climate change effects, which also affects such other priority areas as food security and health. (Helen Humphreys/CCAG)

Advocates want CT General Assembly to maintain climate goals

As Connecticut's legislative session begins, advocates want the General Assembly to tackle climate action. The state established climate goals in 200…

An American Public Transportation Association report found the average purchase price of a new car has increased 30% since 2019. The average price for a used car rose 40% in the same period, figures which may prompt more people to use public transit. (Adobe Stock)

CT advocates want public transit investments in state budget

In honor of Rosa Parks' birthday, Transit Equity Day is today. Connecticut advocates are calling for greater investment in public transit. In …

In 2008, Connecticut passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which established its climate goals. This means getting greenhouse-gas emissions 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2001 levels by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Misinformation slows CT’s new emission standards

Connecticut lawmakers are reluctant to approve new emission standards that would require 90% cleaner emissions from internal-combustion engines and re…

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finds 67% of nitrogen oxide emissions, a key component of smog, came from transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Highway changes could make Hartford a walkable city

A Connecticut Department of Transportation study has outlined plans to make Hartford a walkable city. The Greater Hartford Mobility Study proposes …

A 2021 study found people are willing to pay almost $20 to $30 to support their community's climate resilience plan. Additionally, when developers own resources, they consider the willingness to pay when setting prices to charge customers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Climate resilience hubs could bolster CT plans

A new report from Yale University looked at the effectiveness of green resilience hubs in Connecticut communities. The hubs are made up of renewable …

In 2019, Connecticut had economy-wide emissions of 39.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 13.9% decline since 1990. Emissions hit an all time low in 2020 at 32.7%, but post-pandemic estimates show they're creeping upward again. (Adobe Stock)

CT Groups Head to New York City for Climate March

Community groups across the U.S. are making their way to New York City for the March to End Fossil Fuels - including some from Connecticut. The …

While Hydrilla was first discovered in the Connecticut River in 2016, the invasive plant species has been in Connecticut since the late 1980s. (Adobe Stock)

CT Groups Work to Eliminate Invasive Aquatic Species

Connecticut legislators and environmentalists are taking action against an invasive species in the Connecticut River. Hydrilla was first identified …

Rising temperatures and heat waves are having severe effects on incarcerated people's physical and mental health. A Prison Policy Initiative report found suicides increased by 23% in the three days following days of extreme heat. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Extreme Heat Lethal to U.S. Prison Population

A recent report found extreme heat can be lethal for incarcerated people. Connecticut and other Northeastern states experienced a 21% increase in …

In 2022, the EPA found three widely used neonicotinoid insecticides harm roughly three-fourths of all endangered plants and animals, along with all 39 species of amphibian protected by the Endangered Species Act. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly Bills Address Pesticide Use

Connecticut's General Assembly is considering legislation which would end the use of certain types of pesticides in the state. Senate Bill 962 and …

A new report finds the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has created a 50% increase in economic growth per capita for the 12 states in it. However, experts worry it isn't as effective in helping communities living with the effects of power plant emissions. (Adobe Stock)

Report: RGGI Could Do More than Reduce Emissions

A new report aims to make the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative more effective. The Acadia Center's report finds since the RGGI's creation in 2009…

According to the U.S. Environmental Information Administration, Connecticut's 13 hydroelectric facilities generate around 120 megawatts of electricity. (Adobe Stock)

Connecticut Weighs Pros and Cons of Hydropower

While Connecticut elected officials want to import hydroelectric power from Canada, one group said the option would not be as environmentally …

Of 53 bay segments monitored, 57% received grades of C, D or F because of high pollution levels, according to the 2022 Save the Sound Report Card. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Provides Grants for Long Island Sound Conservation Efforts

The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding more than $10 million in grant funding to aid conservation efforts in Long Island Sound. The 2022 …

Connecticut has made progress in getting more climate-friendly policies in the states. One such policy, approved by Gov. Ned Lamont, expands the use of electric vehicles for public and private use. (Adobe Stock)

CT Sierra Club Looks Back on 2022, Ahead to 2023

As the year comes to a close, the Sierra Club of Connecticut is looking back on some of its accomplishments and challenges. The group focuses on …

Earlier this year, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 4, giving the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection the authority to expand public and private use of electric vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

New Federal Funding Helps CT Get Electric School Buses

Connecticut school districts and bus companies will be receiving more than $8 million in federal funding for electric school buses. The grant is …

According to a National Wildlife Federation report, the Clean Water Act was aimed at cleaning up urban waterways that were disproportionately impacting low-income communities and communities of color. Even after 50 years, these same demographics are overburdened by water pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Clean Water Act Subject of SCOTUS Case

As the Clean Water Act turns 50 this month, parts of it are the subject of a U-S Supreme Court case. Sackett versus E-P-A might let factories…

The recently passed CHIPS and Science Act is expected to provide major investments for infrastructure to build the semiconductors necessary for electric vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

CT Begins Transition to Electric Vehicles

The United States is seeing a national push from the federal government and car companies to pivot toward electric vehicles, and Connecticut is …

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than half of the contiguous United States is experiencing moderate to extreme drought. (Adobe Stock)

CT Farmers Work through Severe Drought Conditions

Since early May, much of Connecticut has been in a severe drought, leaving the state's 5,500 farms scrambling to adapt. Much of the Northeast is …

Part of the Inflation Reduction Act's $369 billion climate-change investment creates the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, which aims to reduce leaks from producing and distributing natural gas. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act is Law: What Next for Climate?

Although President Joe Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, he's getting pressure to declare a climate emergency to provide further …

Connecticut's National Estuarine Research Reserve is expected to provide economic benefits as well. Long Island Sound is responsible for about $9.4 billion annually in economic impact in the region, according to a study. (Adobe Stock)

CT to Commemorate Securing First National Estuarine Research Reserve

Connecticut is celebrating its first estuary reserve, which will help identify environmental threats to waterways and natural resources. …

Connecticut's National Estuarine Research Reserve is expected to provide economic benefits too. Long Island Sound is responsible for about $9.4 billion annually in economic impact in the<br />region, according to a study. (Adobe Stock)

CT's Estuarine Research Reserve to Focus on Preserving Long Island Sound

Connecticut has secured its first National Estuarine Research Reserve along part of the state's Long Island Sound. Conservationists applaud the news …

Other recommendations in the report from Brown University include increasing the number of public hearings for bills, especially late in the legislative session. (Adobe Stock)

Report Unpacks Influence on CT's Climate, Energy Policies

Brown University researchers found in Connecticut's efforts to combat climate change, electric and gas utilities spent the most on climate and energy …

The semipalmated sandpiper may not be one of the most common shorebirds in the Americas if its population continues to decrease, as it has for four decades. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Can Play Key Part in Migratory Bird Conservation

GREENWICH, Conn. -- North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and a new report shows how Connecticut, a major stopover for migratory …

The Great Meadows Marsh is an important habitat for horseshoe crabs, blue crabs and fish such as the Atlantic silverside and menhaden. (Audubon Connecticut)

Restoration Project at Great Meadows Marsh Aims to Invest in CT's Coastline

STRATFORD, Conn. -- A restoration project broke ground yesterday that will revive one of Connecticut's largest salt marshes thanks to a $4 million …

The proposed reserve includes a section of the Connecticut River, which contributes 75% of the freshwater found in the Long Island Sound. (Adobe Stock)

CT Close to Establishing Its First National Estuarine Research Reserve

OLD LYME, Conn. -- Connecticut soon will join a majority of East Coast states in having a federally recognized estuary, which could help identify …

A new report says a 29 percent reduction in transportation emissions from 2014 is needed to meet a 2030 clean air target. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Not On Track To Meet Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

HARTFORD, Conn. - A new report reveals Connecticut is not on track to meet either of its 2030 or 2050 greenhouse gas emissions goals, and advocates …

According to the Connecticut Audubon Society, the most common species with symptoms of the unidentified disease range from bluebirds to American robins and European starlings, to songbirds and hummingbirds. (Adobe Stock)

CT Bird Deaths Decrease; Cause of Illness Remains a Mystery

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Fewer wild birds are dying in Connecticut than earlier this summer, but experts are still trying to pinpoint the cause and are …

The Reconnecting Communities Initiative would work to eliminate certain highways that dissect neighborhoods in cities including Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. (Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill Shortchanges CT Climate-Justice Program

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut is expected to see over $500 billion in federal funds to modernize roads, bridges, transit, broadband and more…

Research from Harvard School of Public Health shows potential pollution reduction from the Transportation Climate Initiative would prevent 300 deaths a year in the Northeast. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Transportation Climate Bill Needs Vote in Special Session

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut environment and health advocates are pushing for the Transportation and Climate Initiative to get a vote in the …

Environmental experts suggest anyone traveling on the Connecticut River clean, drain and dry their boats when they take them out of the water to keep from spreading hydrilla. (Kelsey Wentling/CT River Conservancy)

Push is On to Combat Hydrilla in Connecticut River

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Environmental groups say eradicating a growing amount of the invasive species hydrilla in the Connecticut River requires a team …

According to the Connecticut River Conservancy, beverage cans and bottles are the top trash items found in the Connecticut River. A new bottle-return bill hopes to change that, by incentivizing people to redeem more bottles. (Adobe Stock)

On Earth Day, CT Environmentalists Rally to Modernize Bottle-Deposit Bill

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A coalition of Connecticut groups and lawmakers in support of new state bottle-deposit legislation are rallying in honor of Earth …

About 30% of Connecticut households don't have access to a car. Legislation just passed in the Environment Committee aims to tackle transportation inequities, and to clean up the environment. (Adobe Stock)

Improved Transportation on Horizon for CT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Strides to strengthen and modernize public transit are underway in Connecticut. The General Assembly's Environment Committee …

Unlike prior years, the 2021 environmental summit will he held online. (Connecticut League of Conservation Voters)

21st Annual Environmental Summit Starts Today, Goes Virtual

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Legislators, advocates and experts are gathering today, virtually, to brainstorm solutions for the myriad threats facing …

Protests Today & Sunday Against Proposed Killingly Gas Plant

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Opponents of the proposed Killingly natural-gas power plant are ramping up public pressure, with a protest today in Hartford and …

John James Audubon's legacy as a famed ornithologist and artist is tempered by the fact that he owned and traded slaves. (Audubon Society)

CT Audubon Society Addresses a Mixed Legacy on Race

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Audubon Society is facing up to its mixed legacy on racism, with an open letter and an essay acknowledging that …

The Connecticut River is one of many across the country polluted by companies that have sought environmental waivers during the pandemic. (idenimadept/Wikimedia Commons)

Groups Sue EPA Over Suspending Pollution Rules During Pandemic

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Conservation groups are asking a federal judge to make the Environmental Protection Agency enforce pollution controls. They're …

Conservation advocates argue that we need to go all-electric and transition away from using natural gas for heating. (Donnie B/Morguefile)

Clean Air Advocates Slam Move Toward "Renewable" Natural Gas

HARTFORD, Conn. - Proposals to transition from natural gas to so-called "renewable" gas won't solve our emissions problems - according to a new …

The Great Island marsh at the mouth of the Connecticut River is part of the proposed Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve. (Kevin O'Brien)

New Reserve Moves Forward to Showcase CT Estuaries

GROTON, Conn. -- Connecticut soon may get a special reserve to spotlight its estuaries -- where the Connecticut and Thames rivers meet Long Island …

Civilian Conservation Corps crews completed the Ellie Mitchell Pavilion in Rocky Neck State Park in 1936. (Edward Fritzen/Flickr)

Groups Press to Revive Civilian Conservation Corps

ROCKY NECK STATE PARK, Conn. - Environmental groups are calling on Congress to revive the Civilian Conservation Corps, in order to put people back to …

Environmental groups would like to see programs that encourage owners of new buildings to go all-electric instead of relying on fossil fuels such as natural gas or heating oil. (Donnie B/Morguefile)

50 Years After First Earth Day, CT Continues the Fight

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Today is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and, although in many ways Connecticut is greener than ever, there's still plenty of …

Connecticut has the fifth highest share of electricity provided by nuclear power in the nation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Ralf Vetterle/Pixabay)

CT Has Higher Power Plant Emissions Among Northeastern States

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has lowered power plant emissions dramatically in the Northeast, but Connecticut has made …

A survey of prospective U.S. car buyers found 63% are interested in electric vehicles. (stlee000/Adobe Stock)

Connecticut Consumers Support Cleaner Cars

HARTFORD, Conn. – Consumers are calling on carmakers to oppose Trump administration efforts to freeze auto-emission standards and block states …

A proposal by Senate minority leader Charles Schumer would help build the charging stations needed for the transition to electric vehicles. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

Proposal Could Put Millions of Electric Cars on Road

HARTFORD, Conn. – Clean air advocates say combating climate change requires switching from gas-powered cars to clean electric vehicles…

Electrifying passenger vehicles and buses will improve air quality and reduce operating costs for vehicle owners and taxpayers. (baranq/Adobe Stock)

New Transportation Policy Big Win for Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. – A new analysis says Connecticut could see major gains from a new approach to transportation. The report from the Acadia …

Improving agricultural practices will be critical in the fight against climate change. (ValentinValkov/Adobe Stock)

Good Farming Practices Help Slow Climate Change

HARTFORD, Ct. — A new report says farming has an important role to play in fighting climate change. The Climate Change and Land Use report from …

Rising sea levels could drive the saltmarsh sparrow to extinction within 50 years. (CT Audubon Society)

Wildlife Bill Gets Bipartisan Support

HARTFORD, Conn. — A new bill in Congress would bring millions of dollars to help at-risk wildlife in Connecticut. The Recovering America's …

The Environmental Protection Agency says the air is getting cleaner while it is attempting to roll back clean air regulations. (pxhere)

EPA Sued for Allowing Interstate Air Pollution

HARTFORD, Conn. – Obey the law by reducing interstate air pollution – that's the message environmental groups want a federal court to …

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CT: Environment