Vermont Governor Douglas Urges Federal Action on Emissions

New England governors, Canadian premiers won’t wait for national governments

June 26, 2007 -- Brudenell, Prince Edward Island, Canada – Vermont Governor Jim Douglas today joined other New England governors and all eastern Canadian premiers in urging the federal governments of both countries to formulate national policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

As the co-chairman of the 31st annual meeting of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers here, Governor Douglas signaled his strong support of an accord that reaffirms the region’s desire to reduce carbon emissions from factories, power plants, homes and automobiles.

The governor, who is chairman of the association of New England governors, also welcomed his Canadian counterparts’ desire to explore joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an agreement among about a dozen states – including Vermont – that places caps on carbon emissions.

“My commitment to reducing carbon emissions in Vermont is long-standing,” Governor Douglas said. “And while our regional commitment is also strong, in order to truly achieve long-term and sustainable reductions in carbon emissions, our respective federal governments must begin to act.”

At their annual meeting, the governors and premiers reaffirmed their agreement to reduce regional carbon emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and, through agreements like RGGI, the Climate Registry and other programs, seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent to 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

The premiers and governors, according to a unanimously approved resolution, “strongly encourage greater cooperation among local, national and international governments to expeditiously adopt and implement policies and programs that help to stabilize the climate, increase energy security and promote economic development.”

“We will continue to provide the leadership that is traditional in this very important area,” Governor Douglas said. He and his colleagues acknowledged the region's commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, and their resolution urged more cooperation among them and the American and Canadian federal governments.

“More remains to be done if the targets…are to be achieved,” the accord said.

The governor – like his colleagues – stressed that he will not wait for the federal government. Vermont was the first state to codify into law the RGGI standards; it recently defended in court its decision to adopt California’s stringent automobile emissions standards; and it recently joined the national Climate Registry.

“We can’t do it alone,” Governor Douglas said. “We know that true long-term improvements in air quality will take the efforts of all of us – especially our federal governments.”

Source: Vermont Governor