Western States, Canada Provinces Outline Climate Plan

The largest U.S. market-based system for addressing climate change would be created under a plan released today by a group of Western states and Canadian provinces.

The Western Climate Initiative, a collaboration of seven Western states including California and four Canadian provinces, has vowed to cut emissions by 15 percent of 2005 levels by 2020. The group plans to create a regional cap-and-trade program starting in four years that requires polluters to have permits for emitting carbon dioxide, according to the final draft recommendations.

The Western Climate Initiative includes Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario.

By Adam Satariano

Full Story: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aEvbuQ7.T8C4&refer=canada