Bold action to address global warming

Washington a leading partner in regional plan

This fall, Washington, along with 11 other Western states and Canadian provinces, took historic steps to address global warming. The Western States Climate Initiative (WCI) is an effort to create mechanisms for the region to reduce its global warming pollution.

Key recommendations from the WCI include setting a binding cap on global warming pollution and creating a market-based system, called cap and trade, to ratchet down emissions. These are two essential mechanisms needed to create a dramatic cut in global warming pollution in our state and in our region.

Getting it right
Now, Environment Washington is working to strengthen the WCI’s recommendations in our state. We are working to make sure that the cap-and-trade system is fair by making polluters pay for every ton of carbon they produce and funneling that revenue in clean energy. We are also working to close loopholes by limiting large-scale carbon offsets, which have the potential to undermine the effectiveness of the cap-and-trade system.

While the WCI is a major step forward for climate policy, it still needs to be improved to create the reductions scientists tell us we need in order to avoid the worst effects of global warming.

Environment Washington is committed to creating science-based policies to reduce our state’s emissions. We are working to ensure that the systems put in place are fair to the public and protect the environment for future generations.

Washington was a founding partner of the WCI, along with Oregon, California, New Mexico and Arizona. Since these five states announced their efforts in February 2007, the partnership has grown to include 24 jurisdictions in all, including six Mexican states.

The challenge of global warming requires bold action. In the absence of federal action, these states should be commended for their leadership. The WCI, following in the footsteps of a similar agreement between Northeastern governors, demonstrates that citizens across the country are demanding action on climate change.

2007 was tied for the second warmest year on record.