Western Climate Initiative

Infobox Organization
name = Western Climate Initiative


image_border =
size =
caption =
abbreviation = WCI
motto =
formation = February 2007
extinction =
type = Intergovernmental organization
status =
purpose = Combatting global warming
headquarters = (none)
location =
region_served =
membership = "Partners": Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec "Observers": Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Wyoming, Saskatchewan, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Tamaulipas
language =
leader_title =
leader_name =
main_organ =
parent_organization =
affiliations =
num_staff =
num_volunteers =
budget =
website = [http://www.westernclimateinitiative.org/ Western Climate Initiative]
remarks =

legend|lime|ObserversThe Western Climate Initiative or WCI is an initiative—started by states and provinces along the western rim of North America—to combat climate change caused by global warming, independent of their national governments.

The stated purpose of the WCI is to identify, evaluate and implement ways to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region. The initiative requires partners to set an overall regional goal to reduce emissions, develop a market-based, multi-sector mechanism to help achieve that goal, and participate in a cross-border greenhouse gas registry.

The Western Climate Initiative plans to lay the foundation for an international cap and trade program that would involve both the United States and Canada. [ [http://www.energyadvantage.com/content/view/168/95/lang,en/ Energy Advantage: Independent, objective total energy management - 06/30/2008 - Western Climate Initiative: United States ] ] Alberta and Saskatchewan object to cap and trade and in July 2008 called WCI's plan a "cash grab by some of Canada's resource-poor provinces." [http://www.dose.ca/news/story.html?id=9ff531b5-1a6e-4864-8256-466a637b128f Ontario to sign cap-and-trade climate plan ] ]

On 22 August, 2007, the WCI set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15% from 2005 levels by 2020. [ [http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2007/2007-08-22-05.asp Western Governors, Premiers Set Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal ] ]

Partners vs. observers

The initiative includes two types of membership: partners and observers. [http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/events/2007-08-30_wci/2007-08_WCU_UPDATE.PDF]

The partners are the U.S. states of Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.

The observers are Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, Wyoming, the province of Saskatchewan (which objects to WCI plans for a cap and trade system), and the Mexican states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Tamaulipas.

Membership changes

*24 April 2007: British Columbia joined with the five western states, turning the WCI into an international partnership. [ [http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2007OTP0053-000509.htm B.C. Joins Western Regional Climate Action Initiative ] ]

*21 May 2007: Utah became the sixth state to join the WCI when Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. signed the Initiative. [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/21/ap/tech/main2833474.shtml] Governor Huntsman was the second Republican governor to join, after California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

*13 June 2007: Manitoba said that it would be the second Canadian province to join the WCI. [ [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=an44OcQBMXLA&refer=canada Bloomberg.com: Canada ] ]

*24 September 2007: Alaska joined the WCI as an observer. [http://newsminer.com/2007/09/24/9025]

*19 November 2007: The Governor of Montana announced that that state would also join. [http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/20/news/local/news04.txt]

*18 April 2008: Quebec, previously an observer, became a partner. [ [http://communiques.gouv.qc.ca/gouvqc/communiques/GPQE/Avril2008/18/c7171.html Communiqué 7171: Fighting climate change - QUÉBEC JOINS THE WESTERN CLIMATE INITIATIVE ] ]

*18 July 2008: Ontario, previously an observer, became a partner.

ee also

*Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (Eastern North America)
*Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord
*The Climate Registry
*Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

References

External Links

* [http://www.westernclimateinitiative.org/ Official Western Climate Initiative Website]