BERKELEY (August 22, 2007)—The Western Climate Initiative (WCI), a partnership including six western U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, announced a goal today of cutting global warming pollution 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
 
Below is a statement by Christopher Busch, a climate economist at the Union of Concerned Scientists:
 
"California's leadership in the fight against global warming has inspired other governments to act. Today's announcement shows that momentum continues to gather and will add to the pressure for federal action.
 
"A regional cap covering six western U.S. states and two Canadian provinces should ensure that all businesses in the region will operate on a level playing field. A regional cap is a clear indication that the future for business is in cutting pollution, not escaping regulation.
 
"This regional goal is comparable to California's. The state's landmark global warming law requires emission reductions to 1990 levels by 2020. The regional goal of reducing emissions 15 percent below 2005 levels is equivalent to capping pollution at about 2 percent above 1990 levels. However, emissions from other states and provinces have been growing faster than in California. Therefore, the regional cap will produce greater reductions than California's law would on its own.
 
"It is critical that the WCI's regional plans do not supercede decisions slated to be made by the Air Resources Board under California's global warming law.
 
"Many details that will determine the effectiveness of the WCI remain to be decided. But today's announcement is a welcome step forward and further testimony to the rest of the world that states and provinces in the United States and Canada are not going to wait for their respective federal governments to take action. The time is now."