TRENTON - New Jersey took action on two landmark global warming solutions today that cut carbon dioxide emissions from both power plants and automobiles. Both break new ground as the first ever steps needed to regulate in-state sources of carbon dioxide emissions.

“Governor Codey’s historic announcement today marks the beginning of New Jersey’s effort to curb global warming emissions from our largest sources. By joining nations around the world which have already taken action, New Jersey, and the other northeast states send a message to the rest of the nation that it's time to take global warming seriously," said Dena Mottola, Executive Director of NJPIRG Law and Policy Center.

The two solutions deliver a dual approach to curbing global warming by cutting carbon dioxide emissions from the state's two largest sources, power plants and automobiles. The transportation sector in New Jersey, including cars, are responsible for 54% of global warming pollution and in-state power plants are responsible for another 16% of global warming pollution emitted in the state.

"Because of the Bush Administration's attack on the environment it is up to the states to protect our environment. This is an important step forward creating Environmental Federalism where states take the lead by adopting programs such as RGGI and Clean Car," said Jeff Tittel, Director, The Sierra Club-New Jersey Chapter.

In his first announcement of the day, Governor Codey joined the governors of New York, Delaware, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut to announce New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The regional program will require power generators in the seven participating states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% below projected levels by 2019. While the plan announced today sets regional goals and parameters, each state must adopt rules within the year to officially adopt their part in the program.

The second action, Governor Codey’s approval of regulations to adopt the New Jersey Clean Cars Program, has New Jersey joining five other northeast states and California which have already adopted a tough new carbon dioxide tailpipe standard for automobiles, a component of the California Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program. Adoption of the standard for carbon dioxide would reduce automobile emissions of greenhouse gases by about 15% by 2020 in New Jersey. New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine have already adopted the standard, and Massachusetts is expected to adopt it by the end of the year. Two other western states, Washington and Oregon, are also considering the standard.

"These twin solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions are urgently needed first steps to limiting New Jersey's contribution to a planet-threatening problem with real life consequences here at home. We applaud Governor Codey, NJDEP Commissioner Campbell and NJBPU President Fox for putting New Jersey forward as a leader in cutting-edge global warming policy change,” continued Mottola.

A report recently released by Professor Oppenheimer of Princeton University highlights the problems New Jersey will face from global warming. That report concluded that sea levels will rise between 1-2 feet in the next century, covering a land area larger than Hudson County all along New Jersey's coast. Such a loss of land would displace everyone who lives within 50 miles of the shore, over half of New Jersey's population.

New Jersey’s wildlife, too, would be impacted by the changes brought by global warming, according to the New Jersey Audubon Society. "New Jersey prides itself on diverse and unique ecosystems from the Pinelands to the Highlands, and we have one of the best bird migration seasons in the country. Global warming threatens to destroy these natural treasures. We applaud the governor for taking these actions to protect them,” said Eric Stiles of the NJ Audubon Society.

In governor’s actions today were applauded by all the state’s leading state environmental groups. "Governor Codey's dual actions today are more than a daily-double and stand in stark contrast to today's efforts in Washington. New Jersey is promoting cleaner cars and cleaner power plants, while Congressional leaders are forcing a vote on increased reliance on dirty fossil fuels and the Bush Administration continues to oppose meaningful progress on global warming and cleaner air," said David Pringle, Campaign Director, NJ Environmental Federation.