In 2001, regional leaders in New England and Eastern Canada set a goal of reducing greehouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010 and 10 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2020.

Five years later, a study by Environment Northeast has concluded that the rate of carbon dioxide emissions has continued to increase and could be as much as 50% higher than 1990 levels by 2020.

The group has published a “Climate Change Roadmap” that calls for increased energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles andpower plants and carbon sequestration.

The report highlights the difficulty that has been experienced meeting global warming goals in even the most supportive regions.  Their failure so far, combined with the unwillingness to face the issue on a national level will, in the long run, only mean that more drastic measures will be needed if runaway global warming is to be avoided.