CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire’s first climate action plan calls for “a new way of living,” beginning immediately, to reduce carbon emissions blamed for global warming – and preparing the state for the warming the authors say is already under way.

Recommendations range from making buildings more energy efficient to expanding public transportation systems and bike lanes as well as building transmission lines to bring hydroelectric and wind power from Canada.

“Future economic growth in New Hampshire as well as mitigation of and adaptation to a changing climate will depend on how quickly we transition to a new way of living” based on increasing energy efficiency, using more renewable energy and driving less, the report said.

The 29-member Climate Change Policy Task Force worked for a year to develop the wide-ranging plan it released last week. It set a goal of reducing greenhouse gases to 80 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050, with a mid-point goal of a 20 percent reduction by 2025.

A public/private partnership will oversee and guide the plan’s implementation. The New Hampshire Energy and Climate Collaborative includes leading businesses, nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.

In general categories, the 67 recommendations would reduce greenhouse emissions from buildings, power production and transportation; protect forests that help absorb carbon emissions; support regional and national greenhouse gas proposals; do more to educate the public on the topic; and plan to adapt to climate change.

The group is counting on future technology to achieve the ultimate goal, but said some changes can begin now, especially in energy efficiency.

“The technology, equipment and expertise exist today to substantially reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool the average exiting home, as well as to make new homes highly efficient from the outset,” the report said. It cited studies showing homes can be made anywhere from 15 percent to 60 percent more energy efficient with improved air-leak sealing, insulation and equipment.

The authors say making plans to adapt to a warmer climate is important because even if energy saving changes begin immediately, they won’t be in time to quickly affect greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere.

The report says New Hampshire has experienced climate changes already, including warmer winters, less snow, more rain, earlier spring run-off and more severe weather. The report said future changes could hurt the lucrative skiing and snowmobiling industries, lead to more droughts and floods, boost air pollution and hurt forestry and agriculture.

Slowing development to preserve forests is critical, the report said, because trees absorb and store large amounts of carbon and provide a renewable fuel.

Regarding power production, the recommendations include generating more energy from renewable sources; improving power transmission; and allowing regulated utilities including Public Service Company of New Hampshire to build renewable energy power plants.

The plan does not suggest replacing Public Service’s coal-burning power plant in Bow. The company hopes to keep the plant running for 10 to 20 years, but its project to install air pollution devices to clean mercury from its smoke is being challenged.

On the roads, the report recommends tougher emissions standards and speed enforcement, laws against idling, incentives for people to buy energy efficient cars and better traffic flow to ease congestion.

The group also wants the state to lead by example, forming an Energy Management Unit to lead state efforts to cut energy use.