Oregon is part of a groundbreaking regional program: the Western Climate Initiative. The WCI is developing a “cap-and-trade” program to limit greenhouse gas emissions involving seven Western States and three Canadian provinces. We need your help to ensure it’s strong enough to effectively reduce global warming pollution.

To be effective, the WCI’s proposed cap-and-trade system must limit greenhouse gas emissions from all major carbon sources.  Because transportation is responsible for nearly half the region’s greenhouse gas emissions, the cap must include this sector to succeed.  The WCI partners recently agreed to include transportation fuels within the cap; this was a significant step in the right direction. However, transportation fuels may be phased in at a later time, after other sectors.  This approach would undermine the WCI’s potential to quickly reduce regional emissions.  We must speak up now to make the program more effective.  Send a message to Governor Kulongoski now >>

Another problem with the proposal involves what are called “allowances.”  The cap-and-trade system is based on polluters buying the right to pollute at auction; as currently written, the WCI would give away 75% of those allowances.  Only the remaining 25% would have to be paid for.  These percentages need to be flipped.  Not only would this reduce emissions, it would provide vital funding for programs that will make the shift to a low carbon economy swift and successful.  Renewable energy research, green retraining for workers, and investments in energy efficiency are critical to allow our economy to grow while our carbon footprint shrinks.  Take action now >>

We can already see some of the effects of global climate change right here in Oregon: things like extreme weather events, more frequent forest fires, invasive pest infestations and reduced salmon runs.  We’re also likely to see more flooding, ongoing declines in snowpack and lower summer river flows.  We need the Western Climate Initiative, and we need it to be strong enough to do the job.  Take action now >>

The Western Climate Initiative has the potential to put Oregon and the West at the head of the worldwide movement against climate change.  But we have to make sure that it lives up to that promise.  Please contact the Governor today and let him know you support a strong, effective WCI and other measures to rein in climate change.  Take action now >>

Visit our Western Climate Initiative Information Page for more information about this issue.

Take Action

To send a letter to Governor Kulongoski urging him to work to strengthen the Western Climate Initiative, follow the instructions below.