Western Climate Initiative

On February 26, 2007, Governors Napolitano of Arizona, Schwarzenegger of California, Richardson of New Mexico, Kulongoski of Oregon, and Gregoire of Washington signed an agreement establishing the Western Climate Initiative, a joint effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. In May 2007, Governor Huntsman announced that Utah will become the sixth state to join the WCI, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba (not shown above) have joined as the first participating jurisdictions outside of the United States. According to the Initative's memorandum of understanding, WCI members agree to jointly set a regional emissions target and establish, by August 2008, a market-based system – such as a cap-and-trade program covering multiple economic sectors – to aid in meeting it.

In August 2007, the Western Climate Initiative announced its regional, economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions target of 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, or approximately 33 percent below business-as-usual levels. The regional target is designed to be consistent with existing targets set by individual member states and does not replace these goals. Covered emissions include the six primary greenhouse gases identified by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

The WCI builds on work already undertaken individually by the participating states and provinces, as well as two existing regional agreements (see below): the Southwest Climate Change Initiative of 2006, which includes Arizona and New Mexico, and the West Coast Governors' Global Warming Initiative of 2003, which includes California, Oregon, and Washington.

Press Release [1]
Western Climate Initiative Statement of Regional Goal [2]
Western Climate Initiative Website [3]