September 19, 2007—The members of the Western Climate Initiative have agreed to a regional goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 15% below 2005 levels by 2020, according to a report from the US Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The initiative was formed in February by the governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington, and was later joined by the state of Utah and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba. By August 2008, the members of the initiative plan to create a market-based mechanism, such as a carbon cap-and-trade program, to achieve the goal.
The initiative members stressed that the regional goal does not replace or supersede the goals set by the individual states and provinces. For instance, Oregon has set a goal to stop the increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, then to reduce emissions to 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 and to 75% below 1990 levels by 2050. Those goals were codified into state law this year. Meanwhile, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr., a relative newcomer to the process, has committed that state to developing a greenhouse gas reduction goal by June 2008.
For the complete text of the Statement of Regional Goal, visit the WCI site.
