Western Climate Initiative
- B.C. is a member of the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), which is developing a regional cap and trade system to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industrial polluters.
- The WCI was launched in February 2007 to develop regional strategies to address climate change. The WCI is identifying, evaluating and implementing collective and cooperative ways to reduce GHGs in the region.
- WCI partners include four Canadian provinces (B.C., Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec) and seven American states (Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington). In addition, WCI observers include Saskatchewan as well as six American states and six Mexican states.
- All WCI member jurisdictions have established aggressive goals to reduce GHG emissions by adopting California tailpipe standards, participating in a cross-border GHG registry known as The Climate Registry, and working together on a regional GHG emissions cap and trade system.
- B.C.'s involvement in the WCI allows the province to collaborate with other jurisdictions on regional solutions, participate in a larger carbon market and provide more opportunities for low-cost solutions.
- The WCI is committed to including stakeholders in the development of the cap and trade program. Many opportunities have been provided for stakeholder feedback, including several major documents that have been offered for stakeholder comment and an ongoing series of meetings and teleconferences.
- More information on the Western Climate Initiative is available at the WCI web site, www.westernclimateinitiative.org.
