The key takeaway from Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s recent greenhouse gas report should be that the state has a long way to go in cutting overall (or gross) carbon pollution. Its optimistic conclusion that we remain on track is focused on net emissions, accounting for storing emissions in our trees and coastal wetlands. But this only works if today’s healthy forests and wetlands remain as they are for years to come. And we know that climate change threatens that stability — in fact, it’s happening right now via wildfires, devastating invasive species, droughts, storms, rapid sea level rise and record-breaking heat waves on land and sea. The report shows that we need to cut overall carbon pollution, not remain complacent with business-as-usual.

The report recognizes Maine’s legal obligation to cut climate pollution levels to 17.6 million tons by 2030, a 45% reduction from 1990 levels that must be achieved within just six more years. How can we meet that obligation when partisan politics have stalled the transition to electrifying our transportation and threaten to derail vital offshore wind power? The report should be less a cause for celebration and more a call to action.

Let’s hope those leading our state heed that call and make the hard decisions needed to meet the climate crisis.

Dan Amory
Portland