On April 14, Fairfield residents concerned about the catastrophic effects of global warming gathered at Sherman Green in Fairfield to urge Congress to cut carbon dioxide emissions 80% by 2050. A variety of speakers at the event, which was sponsored by the Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force, Earth Day Committee and Fairfield Town Green, celebrated the leadership exhibited by state and local government, various citizen-led initiatives and award-winning town school projects relating to climate change.

The Saturday morning rally was part of Step it Up 2007 ? A National Day of Climate Action, the largest day of citizen action focusing on global warming in our nation?s history. More than 1400 events located in all 50 states were held, including 30 in Connecticut.

First Selectman Ken Flatto welcomed the crowd of more than sixty people and praised the many municipal employees and grass-roots activists who have worked to preserve a healthy environment in Fairfield. ?Global warming is perhaps the critical issue of our times but we can?t begin to address it unless each person does his or her own part,? said Flatto, who was introduced to the environmental movement as a staff member for the National Resources Defense Counsel. He was joined at the gazebo by Selectman Steve Elworthy, a frequent participant at Clean Energy Task Force meetings.

U.S. Representative Christopher Shays was unable to attend but in a letter to the event organizers acknowledged that ?it is our responsibility to work to mitigate the impacts of potentially catastrophic climate change.? Shays called for ?bipartisan dialogue, regional cooperation and an alliance between industry and environmentalists.?

State Senator John McKinney (28th District) and State Representative Tom Drew (132nd District) provided updates on state legislative initiatives that seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ?Connecticut was only the second state in the country to enact a Climate Change Action Plan,? said McKinney, who reminded the group that Fairfield has been a leader among municipalities in its support of clean energy, energy efficiency and alternative fuel vehicles.

?Clean air and clean water are simply non-negotiable,? stated Drew. He added that the Transportation Committee, upon which McKinney and he serve, has worked in bipartisan fashion to help pass laws that have resulted in stricter emission standards for vehicles, tax exemptions for hybrid cars and expanded support for mass transit.

Larry Kaley, Representative Town Meeting (D-8), spoke about grass roots efforts he oversees as chair of the Fairfield Clean Energy Task Force and Earth Day Committee. As a result of the town?s commitment to the SmartPower 20% by 2010 Campaign and more than 300 enrollments in the CTCleanEnergyOptions programs, the town has already earned 6 kilowatts of solar PV systems from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) and hopes to earn more. Kaley also invited participants to attend Fairfield?s Earth Day Celebration on May 5 at Fairfield Warde High School.

Representatives of Holy Family School and Fairfield Warde High School discussed projects that earned honorable mention and second place, respectively, in the finals of the inaugural Cool It! Climate Change Challenge held last month in Hartford. The students proposed innovative measures including ?green rooftops? and school-wide solar PV systems to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions or even become ?carbon neutral.?

Finally, Lynn Plant spoke about Fairfield Town Green, an ad hoc committee that seeks to provide citizens with individual solutions to address global warming. She also developed a plan to host a series of tea parties at which participants can sign a pledge with ten action steps to turn the town ?green.? For her creative concept, Plant was chosen by the Governor?s Steering Committee on Climate Change to receive a Connecticut Climate Change Leadership Award.

Bob Wall, director of energy market initiatives at the CCEF and a member of the sponsoring committees, served as moderator of the event. ?We came together ? appropriately, on Fairfield?s town green ? not to point fingers, but rather to join arms in the battle against global warming. The most important lesson learned is that each of us has the power to make a difference.?

The Fairfield event got me thinking of a t-shirt design that will get people to think. It's available at www.zazzle.com/product/235580342781715580