Six States Abandon the Western Climate Initiative

Date: November 18, 2011

Source: News Room

Six states have withdrawn from the Western Climate Initiative, a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction organization, leaving only California and four Canadian provinces. The departure of Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington was expected as they became less likely to implement a cap-and-trade program given the changed political composition of their legislatures and the economic recession. Support dwindled along with prospects of Congress passing such legislation anytime soon. WCI was formed in 2007 with the intent of reducing regional GHG emissions to 15% below 2005 levels by 2020. The group identified cap-and-trade as a means of achieving the reductions, beginning a multi-year process of designing a regional system of tradable permits.

Sign up to receive our free Weekly News Bulletin