CLIMATE CHANGE

Western States, BC Agree to 15% Greenhouse Gas Cuts

California, four other western states and British Columbia agreed to cut greenhouse gas output to 15 percent below 2005 emission levels by 2020 to curb a forecast rise in global temperatures. California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico in February announced plans to set an emissions target this year and develop a market-based system to help businesses in those states reach that goal next year. In a statement today, the states and British Columbia agreed to the cuts. ``This is the first step to create a regional process to enhance the steps each state is taking on their own,'' Tom Peterson, an adviser to the Western Climate Initiative, said today in a phone interview. ``The states can help each other address climate change in a more cost-effective way.'' Governors of the states, which account for nearly one-fifth of the U.S. population, said in February they are seeing decreased snowfall, drought and worsening fires from the impact of global warming. Utah and Canada's Manitoba have joined the group and haven't yet adopted the cuts in their plans... The states plan to meet the reductions by increasing use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, forcing automakers to trim tailpipe emissions, and improving efficiency of home appliances and other big electrical equipment. The plans lays groundwork for a European-style system across the region that will limit emissions and allow businesses to buy or sell pollution credits if they exceed, or fall short, of their goals. The states want to link up to other systems, such as the northeast's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and to Europe's trading plan....

New Mexico Joins Seven States, Provinces to Reduce Emissions by 15 Percent Below 2005 Levels by 2020

The eight members of the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) today announced the establishment of a regional goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the West to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. n February of this year the governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington created the WCI with a long-term commitment to significantly reduce regional GHG emissions thus lowering the risk of dangerous threats to the climate. Since February the state of Utah and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba also have joined the WCI. Presently, four other U.S. states (Colorado, Kansas, Nevada and Wyoming), three other Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan) and one Mexican state (Sonora) are participating as observers to the WCI’s deliberations. Some of these entities, as well as others, may seek to join the WCI as full members. "States and provinces are leading the way by working to solve – not just debating – the problem of climate change,” said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. “Our goal is the most aggressive regional goal in North America – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2020. Next the partners in the Western Climate Initiative will develop a cap-and-trade program and do our part to tackle global warming.”