Statement: Mass. Legislature, governor must get climate bill done

BOSTON – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker returned a climate bill to the state Legislature Friday with suggested amendments, with less than 60 hours remaining before the end of the 2021–22 formal legislative sessions.

The climate bill (H.5060) passed the House and Senate last week with broad bipartisan support. Legislators must now decide whether to accept Gov. Baker’s amendments or override them and pass the already approved bill into law over his objections. Legislative sessions are scheduled to end by 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

In response, Ben Hellerstein, state director for Environment Massachusetts, issued the following statement:

“Amid all of the back-and-forth on Beacon Hill, one thing is crystal clear: We must act on climate change, and we must act now.

“As President Biden said during his visit to Massachusetts last week, climate change is a ‘clear and present danger.’ Having just lived through record-breaking heat — with another such heatwave projected for next week — we can see the dangers that global warming poses to the people of Massachusetts, which will only get worse without our best efforts to slow it down.

“All eyes are on Beacon Hill to get this done by the July 31 deadline. The governor and the Legislature should do whatever is necessary to pass a strong climate bill, so that all of us can look forward to a healthier, safer, and cooler future.”