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 Setting caps on Colorado’s global warming pollution is an important step in fighting climate change.
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In February, five Western State governors announced a regional plan to reduce the pollution that causes global warming. Since that announcement, Environment Colorado and other conservation organizations have urged Colorado to join the effort.
“To fight global warming, we need to take advantage of groundbreaking efforts like the Western Climate Initiative,” said Will Coyne of Environment Colorado. “While we’re not on board yet, Colorado can join and become a national leader in creating a new energy economy.”
Under the agreement, called the Western Climate Action Initiative, Oregon, California, Washington, New Mexico and Arizona will adopt, within 18 months, pollution-reduction goals and a market-based program to meet them, such as a “cap and trade” program. Colorado is not yet participating in the regional effort, although the state has been designated an “observer” of the joint effort.
Under the regional program, a cap on global warming pollution would be set for all five states. The cap would decline over time to meet pollution reduction targets. Individual companies will either reduce their pollution or buy part of their pollution allowance from another company, so that total pollution levels meet the cap.
The five states participating in the initiative have already established themselves as leaders in developing global warming solutions. Unlike Colorado, each state has either adopted, or committed to adopt, state global warming pollution reduction goals, as well as programs that require new cars sold in their states to emit less global warming pollution than current models.
The announcement of the Western Climate Action Initiative comes as Congress is considering how best to address global warming at the national level.
State conservation groups, including Environment Colorado, Environmental Defense and Western Resource Advocates, support the Western Climate Action Initiative and urge Colorado to play a growing role in regional efforts to combat global warming. |
