Western pact to address climate change

Western pact to address climate change



Feb 2007 - Today, the governors 
of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington 
signed a pact to address climate change with a new western 
regional initiative that commits the states to set clear 
reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions and a 
market-based strategy to achieve those reductions. 
"Today's announcement shows how the West continues to lead the 
way in addressing the most pressing environmental challenge of 
our time," said Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski. "Together, we 
are putting ourselves on a path to reduce greenhouse emissions 
and create a sustainable energy future –a model and example 
for rest of the nation." 
The agreement, the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, 
commits the states to identify within the next six months 
specific greenhouse emission reductions levels and, within the 
next 18 months, a market-based approach, such as a cap and 
trade system, for implementing those targets. 
Governors from the four partner states commemorated the 
announcement in a Washington, DC signing ceremony that took 
place at the same time as Governor Kulongoski's remarks. The 
Oregon governor had been scheduled to join them at the winter 
meeting of the National Governors Association, but was unable 
due to weather related travel delays. 
"As I stand here, my fellow governors are signing the same 
agreement in DC, committing our five states to within the next 
six months set state specific reduction targets and develop 
regional greenhouse gas reduction targets," said Governor 
Kulongoski. "Our regional strategy will deliver a cleaner 
environment and healthier economy. It also sends a message to 
Congress and the White House that if they fail to enact 
policies at the national level to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions and do our nation's part to combat global warming – 
that states will do it on our own." 
The new initiative builds on existing greenhouse gas reduction 
efforts in the individual states as well as two existing 
regional efforts. 
Seven Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states are members of the 
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, RGGI, a cap-and-trade 
program initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from power 
plants in the region. 
Initiated in 2003 by then New York Governor George Pataki, 
seven states - Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, 
New Jersey, New York, and Vermont - are participating in the 
RGGI effort. 
Legislation was signed in April 2006, that requires Maryland 
to become a full participant in the process by June 30, 2007. 
Eight Midwestern states are working with the Lake Michigan Air 
Directors Consortium, LADCO, to develop a framework for a 
voluntary Midwest registry of greenhouse gas emissions. 
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, 
and Wisconsin are participating. 
The registry will provide the mechanism for greenhouse 
gas-emitting companies to track their emissions and reductions 
and will provide a validated list of greenhouse gas emission 
reduction credits available for possible trading. 
Arizona and New Mexico launched the Southwest Climate Change 
Initiative in 2006. 
"I look forward to continuing to work with other governors to 
advance our regional efforts and the Legislature to enact the 
ambitious agenda we've put forth," said Governor Kulongoski. 
"Together, we can ensure a transition to new sources of 
energy, new technologies and cutting-edge policies that 
significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, grow our 
economies, and protect our environment for future 
generations." 
Environmentalists support the Western governors' effort. 
"Western states are already experiencing the serious effects 
of global warming, and our Governors have demonstrated true 
leadership in developing solutions," said Oregon State Public 
Interest Research Group environmental advocate Jeremiah 
Baumann. "This regional global warming solution will benefit 
the environment on a global scale." 
Some believe a strong effort on the part of the states is what 
it will take to get the federal government to set national 
limits for carbon dioxide emissions. 
"There is no question that state leadership will be critical 
to getting real global warming solutions put in place," said 
U.S. PIRG environmental advocate Emily Figdor. "Thanks in no 
small part to the states, Congress is now beginning to 
seriously debate global warming policy."

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