Western governors unite to address global warming
By Cylvia Hayes, 3E Strategies
A new partnership among West Coast Governors to reduce
global warming represents a major step to protect the environment
and regional economy. "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 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."
Newly elected California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has enthusiastically
embraced the initiative put forward by former Gov. Gray Davis, Washington
Gov. Gary Locke and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski. Specific measures the
three states are planning to implement include:
-
Use their buying power to obtain fuel-efficient vehicles;
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Reduce diesel fuel emissions from ships and trucks, including
by creating a network of emission-free truck stops along Interstate
5;
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Promote more renewable energy;
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Develop uniform efficiency standards;
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Work on better measurement and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions
and climate change.
At the press conference in L.A., Governors Locke and Davis strongly
condemned lack of federal leadership on global warming. The Governors
stated they believe 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 it's 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."
To add to Golden's statements consider that together,
the three West Coast states would rank approximately #8 among the
world's nations in total greenhouse gas emissions. If you ranked U.S.
states along with the world's nations in terms of their greenhouse
gas emissions, 34 of the top 50 would be U.S. states.
3EStrategies participated
in a United Nations Sustainability Collaborations conference In Rome,
Italy, in March 2004. Access to water and global warming were the
two issues that received the most attention. The Western
Governor's Global Warming Initiative was mentioned at least twice
as a very hopeful development in the global struggle to slow global
warming. It was noted that since the United States was unwilling to
join in a unified global effort, the best hope was for local, state
and regional initiatives to lead the way.
Governors Kulongoski, Locke and Schwarzenegger are expected to announce
a global warming action plan in the fall of 2004. It is hoped that at
that time, the states will commit to strong targets and timetables for
greenhouse gas emission reductions. A strong action plan has the potential
to provide significant leadership in redirecting the United States toward
a more responsible approach to the very real threat of global warming.