How Are Other U.S. Regions and Nations Responding to Climate Change?

  • Western Governors' Global Warming Initiative: In November 2004, the Governors of Washington, Oregon, and California approved a series of detailed recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a cooperative effort by Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Central to the initiative is the implementation of a mandatory multi-state cap-and-trade program with a market-based emissions trading system, set to begin operation in April 2005.
  • Several states have set specific goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. New Jersey established a target of 3.5% below 1990 levels by 2005. Maine set a target of 10% below 1990 emissions by 2020. 1
  • Six New England states and five Canadian provinces have together established a regional target of 10% below 1990 levels by the year 2020. 2
  • Hundreds of countries have now ratified the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement that requires signatories to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below 1990 levels in the commitment period 2008-2012.

1 Climate Change in California: Choosing Our Future. Union of Concerned Scientists, September 13, 2004. www.climatechoices.org

2 Ibid.