Environmental Leaders Praise Groundbreaking Global Warming Partnership by West Coast Governors
A new partnership to reduce global warming pollution by West Coast Governors represents a major step to protect the regional environment and economy, say environmental leaders.
"We can't afford to wait while the federal government fiddles. We have too much to lose as the climate becomes unstable, and too much to gain by taking a leadership role in developing climate solutions," notes K.C. Golden of Earth Share of Washington member Climate Solutions, a Northwest public interest group dedicated to pushing forward regional climate leadership
"The rest of the world's advanced economies have already begun to retool for a successful, prosperous transition to clean energy sources and efficient energy systems," adds Golden. "With this announcement, the Governors are clearly signaling that the federal government won't stop America's most forward-looking states from taking action."
Golden says that climate disruption threatens the very heart of the western economy and the lifeblood of our environment - our water resources. "Clean energy solutions to global warming can provide millions of new jobs, protect our struggling economies from fossil fuel price spikes, and help us build healthier communities. The time to act is right now, and the Governors are leading the way."
Denis Hayes, President of the Bullitt Foundation and former director of the federal Solar energy Research Institute, lauded the governors for acting while the federal government remains stalled.
"The governors' action will help create a new, job-rich, high-tech energy industry that can meet America's 21st century needs. This initiative will reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases at the same time that it reduces our dependence on foreign oil."
California Gov. Gray Davis, Washington Gov. Gary Locke and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski Monday announced that over the next year they will develop a common regional climate policy to include joint state purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles, reduction of diesel emissions, promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and development of a regional greenhouse gas inventory.
At the press conference in L.A., Governors Locke and Davis strongly condemned lack of federal leadership on global warming. The Governors believe that global warming will have serious adverse consequences on the economy, health and environment of the West Coast states. They cite the effects of global warming as "already evident in the form of higher temperatures, reduced snow pack, insect infestation and increased fire danger in our forests, and rising sea levels on our ocean shores. These impacts will grow significantly in coming years if we do nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"Unfortunately," added the Governors, "federal policies will not lead to a reduction in current emission levels of the greenhouse gasses associated with global warming. Therefore, the Governors of the West Coast states have concluded that our states must act individually and regionally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
"From coast to coast, climate leadership has moved to the states," Golden said. Citing a recent announcement by Northeast Governors that they will institute regional caps on climate-changing greenhouse emissions, Golden added, "These state actions should send a strong message to the federal government that its past time to take steps to cool down global warming. They are also important actions in their own right. Now states representing at least one-third of U.S. population and 40% of the national economy have stepped up the plate to make climate protection a top priority."
Climate Solutions’ mission is to stop global warming at the earliest point possible by helping the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia become a world leader in practical and profitable solutions. For more on Climate Solutions visit www.climatesolutions.org.
Read more from the Tacoma News Tribune:
Governors Unite on Global Warming | 9/23/03
http://www.tribnet.com/news/local/
story/3986775p-4008462c.html
