August 22, 2007 — Western Climate Initiative Announces Regional Carbon Reduction Targets
Oregon Environmental Council — Ecumenical Ministries of the Interfaith Network for Earth Concerns — Environment Oregon — 3E Strategies — Physicians for Social Responsibility — Oregon; Environmental Entrepreneurs — Oregon; National Wildlife Federation — Renewable Northwest Project — Climate Leadership Initiative — Institute for a Sustainable Environment — University of Oregon
Oregon stakeholders applaud commitment but urge Oregon to adhere to stricter state goals adopted in 2007 by Legislature
PORTLAND, Ore.—Aug. 22, 2007—Oregon clean energy and global warming advocates today applauded Governor Ted Kulongoski for announcing regional targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Western Climate Initiative – which currently includes the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba – met the first deadline under the agreement established in February 2007, which was to first set an overall regional greenhouse gas reduction goal by August 26th, 2007.
“The partners within the Western Climate Initiative should be commended for having maintained their commitment to the collective goals originally laid out in February”, said James Schroeder, Interim Director of the National Wildlife Federation, Western Office. “Meeting the deadline for the first task demonstrates a working collaboration between the states and provinces that we hope will carry over into the remaining task of developing programs to meet the reduction targets.”
The first reduction target set by the WCI is to reduce overall emissions by 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. This number represents an aggregate of the goals set by individual states and provinces before joining the Initiative, but in no way precludes states from meeting stronger standards.
The Oregon Legislature codified state goals by statute in this year’s session that are considerably more stringent than those set by the region, as did Washington. Oregon’s 2020 goal is to reduce emissions by 10 percent below 1990; using the regional benchmark of 2005 levels would leave the state well short of its aim.
“Oregon is carving its own aggressive path toward climate stabilization by setting responsible limits to global warming pollution within the state,” said Andrea Durbin, Executive Director of the Oregon Environmental Council. “We should adhere to standards we laid out for ourselves as meaningful reductions here will contribute overall to the regional effort. Meeting our stricter standards will demonstrate our leadership in implementing innovative climate policies.”
With a regional target established, the states and provinces will take the next year to design programs to achieve the carbon reduction goals. “The real work lies ahead,” said Jeremiah Baumann, spokesperson for Environment Oregon. “We now are faced with the task of delivering substantial reductions in global warming pollution, while accounting for the overall diversity of the participating states and provinces. The good news is we have the resources and the know-how to tackle the problem and work jointly to implement the solutions; clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
NOTE TO EDITORS: The complete text of the statement on the Western Climate Initiative from clean-energy advocates across the western United States and Canada is available here:
About the Oregon Environmental Council
The Oregon Environmental Council safeguards what Oregonians love about Oregon – clean air and water, an unpolluted landscape and healthy food produced by local farmers. For nearly 40 years we’ve been a champion for solutions to protect the health of every Oregonian and the health of the place we call home. Our vision for Oregon includes solving global warming, protecting kids from toxins, cleaning up our rivers, building sustainable economies, and ensuring healthy food and local farms.
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