The Blog

Jay Manning, Director of Ecology

09/23/08

We're making history today, as Gov. Gregoire and I helped unveil the Western Climate Initiative's recommendations for the most comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction program in the nation designed to date.

Climate change is a very real threat to Washington's environment and economy. Today's proposal will help us achieve the emissions reductions necessary to protect Washington's unparalleled environment and will help create a new "green economy" that will make us energy independent. It will also promote a healthier and more sustainable economy.

The Western Climate Initiative is made up of 11 states and Canadian provinces that together developed a regional cap-and-trade program that is the centerpiece policy to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. It will cover 90 percent of the region's greenhouse gas emission by the time it is fully operational in 2015. Our target is to reduce emissions by 15 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. This will put us on a long-term path to climate stability.

A cap-and-trade system delivers environmental benefits and economic security by harnessing business innovation. Cap-and-trade tells businesses the destination, and leaves them free to find the best path to make the needed reductions in emissions. The cap-and-trade program, which takes effect in 2012, is designed to protect consumers as well as the environment.

From the start, Gov. Gregoire has led the way — she saw the urgent need to meet Washington's climate change challenge and stepped up. And that's why we're out in front in both protecting the environment and in moving ahead with a new, clean economy that will free us from our dependence on foreign oil.