Protecting the Environment & Combating Climate Change

By Donald R. March

Environmental preservation and development of a robust effort to address the challenge of climate change will be key priorities.

Earlier this year, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted an accelerating rise in the sea level. In the 1961-2003 timeframe, the sea level rose about 1.8 millimeters per year. During the 1993-2003 period, the sea level rose at a rate of 3.1 millimeters per year.

The IPCC also found, "The average atmospheric water vapor content has increased since at least the 1980s over land and ocean as well as in the upper troposphere... Significantly increased precipitation has been observed in eastern parts of North and South America, northern Europe and northern and central Asia." In the local area, the frequency of daily events in which 3" or more precipitation falls has almost doubled. In the 1876-1970 period, such events occurred once every 23.8 months. Since 1971, they have been taking place every 12.3 months.

Although natural cycles might play some role in the ongoing climate change, "most" of the recent change has "very likely" been driven by human activities. The latest projections indicate that the region is likely to face warmer temperatures and increased precipitation as the climate continues to change.

These findings suggest that policymakers need to develop programs to slow the growth in greenhouse gas emissions and then dramatically reduce such emissions. At the same time, they need to develop policies that mitigate the consequences of the climate change that is likely to occur before the rise in temperatures comes to an end, possibly far into the future. Federal, State, and Local policymakers will all need to play a role.

Wetlands play a crucial role in filtering pollutants before they reach watershed areas and other water bodies. Wetlands also help prevent or reduce flooding, control sediment and erosion, recharge groundwater and aquifers, and provide a habitat to a diverse variety of wildlife.

The Sound Shore area is home to the largest salt marsh in New York State outside of Long Island, the Marshlands Conservancy in Rye. The marsh is filled with waders, shorebirds, rails, wrens, turkeys, deer, and more. It is among the county's principal birding areas.

Nevertheless, the marsh, along with many of the county's wetlands, is facing degradation. Since 1974, the Rye Marshlands Conservancy has witnessed a loss of 31% of its area. Nearly all of its southwestern section has disappeared. In recent years, it has been shrinking at an accelerating rate. From 1926-1974, it experienced losses that averaged 0.35% per year. Since 1974, its average annual losses have amounted to 1.2%. A rising sea level coupled with development practices have contributed to this outcome.

As County Legislator, I will pursue such a balanced approach. At the same time, I will work to address the foremost environmental challenges that currently confront Westchester County.

• Climate Change: The scientific body of evidence concerning a human influence in driving the ongoing climate change has grown with each new study. Policymakers will need to develop programs to address climate change and its impacts. As County Legislator, I will advocate environmental and procurement policies that aim to reduce countywide emissions of greenhouse gases and mitigate the consequences of climate change and work with local elected officials and community leaders to collaborate on such efforts. Preservation of existing parkland, wetlands protections, replacement of old county vehicles with hybrid vehicles, encouragement of "green" development, regularly reported inventories of the county's carbon dioxide emissions, and dedicate a share of the capital budget to addressing climate change issues, for example, helping localities finance the purchase of super-efficient light emitting diode (LED) bulbs for street lighting, would help Westchester County address the challenge of climate change. I will regularly examine best practices on mitigating climate change from around the nation and internationally. I will also explore options to provide incentives for more of Westchester County's government personnel to use public transportation.

• Drinking water: Maintaining high quality drinking water should be a priority. Given the proximity of the Kensico Reservoir, it would be unwise to permit any physical expansion of Westchester County Airport. I will seek to make the present limits on Westchester County Airport permanent.

• Flood Mitigation: Environmental/ecological/open spaces policy, including wetlands protection, will be a key component in an effective master flood plan for Westchester County. This reality highlights the importance of developing an integrated approach to policymaking in Westchester County.

• Wetlands protection: Wetlands perform vital ecological functions. I would work with State and Local elected officials to encourage development practices, a permitting process/zoning, and open spaces rules, and reduced use of pesticides (including an elimination of county usage of pesticides except for health emergencies), and effective septic system maintenance to help safeguard the Sound Shore area's wetlands. Reducing contaminants in the Long Island Sound will be an important part of the effort to protect the county's wetlands.

• State and Federal Financing: I will work with State and Federal officials and agencies to bring additional financing to Westchester County and its localities in order to protect the environment and address climate change.