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Members of United Kingdom Parliament Visit New Hampshire
The British are coming… to talk about Climate Change Concord - New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Tom Burack announced today that four members of the British-American Parliamentary Group are visiting New Hampshire this week to see first hand what actions the State is taking to address climate change and to exchange ideas on how to tackle this important global issue. The Parliamentary Group is made up of members from all of the political parties in the United Kingdom's Parliament. Its purpose is to promote friendship and understanding between legislators in the UK and United States. "We are pleased to welcome these esteemed members of the British Parliament to our state," said Commissioner Burack. "We look forward to discussing ideas and collaborating on solutions we are all seeking to address the problem of climate change. This visit provides us with a great opportunity to learn from each other." The four members will arrive on Wednesday evening and plan to spend a full day on Thursday meeting with Governor Lynch, Speaker of the House Terie Norelli, Secretary of State William Gardner, the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee, and New Hampshire business leaders. The meetings will begin with the Governor at 10:15 a.m. in the Executive Chambers. The cross-party delegation will be discussing such topics as the importance of tackling climate change, the UK experience with cap and trade programs, and the advantages of taking early action to reduce greenhouse gases, particularly in promoting new business opportunities. The UK has taken a leadership role on climate change issues, including setting an ambitious target of 60% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2050 and a renewable energy target of 10% by 2010. At the same time, the UK recognizes that no country can solve the problem alone and has sought to engage with as many interested parties as possible to encourage action on a global scale. The delegation includes Colin Challen MP (Member of Parliament), David Chaytor MP, David Heath MP, and the Rt. Hon. Greg Knight MP. On behalf of the group, Mr. Knight said, "We are delighted to be visiting in a state that truly understands the value of the natural resources around them and recognizes concerted action is necessary to preserve their inherent value. Indeed, we think New Hampshire is poised to capture some of the benefits that will undoubtedly emerge from being a leader in this area and the UK is very happy to share its own experience and collaborate where possible." For information on the specific schedule during the UK delegation's visit, contact Mike Fitzgerald, visit coordinator for DES, at 271-6390 or Michael.Fitzgerald@des.nh.gov.
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