Global warming solutions for the West
A regional approach to global warming
In the absence of national leadership, states have been forging ahead to identify and implement solutions to global warming to protect future generations from the worst effects of a warming planet. Knowing that we can accomplish more together than separately, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) was launched in February 2007 by the governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington to develop regional strategies to address climate change.
The WCI states and Canadian provinces have committed to reducing emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. “The adoption of a strong regional strategy will provide leadership for the United States, which is critical if we hope to make real progress toward a solution to global warming,” said Environment New Mexico Advocate Lauren Ketcham.
Advocating a cap-and-trade system
In July, the WCI released draft recommendations—including policies for a cap-and-trade system—that fall short of the what is needed to effectively combat climate change.
“Environment New Mexico is working to ensure that the WCI includes an aggressive, science-based cap; full auctioning of allowances; limited and strict standards for offsets and borrowing; strong monitoring and enforcement; and contains no loopholes that would undermine the program and the incentive to innovate,” said Ketcham.
Over the last century, average annual temperatures in the Southwest have increased, leading to smaller snowpacks and earlier snowmelts. These changes decrease available drinking water supplies and increase the risk of spring flooding, summer droughts and more intense fire seasons.
A cap-and-trade system would attempt to reduce global warming emissions in a cost-effective manner by creating a financial incentive for polluters to reduce their emissions.
Since the launch of the WCI, Arizona, British Columbia, Manitoba, Montana and Utah have joined the initiative. Other U.S. and Mexican states and Canadian provinces have joined as observers.
