From The Los Angeles Times, 5/9/07:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-greenhouse9may09,0,5999838.story?coll=la-home-nation
31 states target global warming
They form a climate registry that will measure and track greenhouse
gas emissions by industry.
By Janet Wilson, Times Staff Writer
Led by California, 31 states representing more than 70% of the U.S.
population announced Tuesday that they would measure and jointly track
greenhouse gas emissions by major industries.
The newly formed Climate Registry is the latest example of states
going further than the federal government in taking steps to combat
global warming.
State officials, along with some industrial groups and
environmentalists, say the registry is a crucial precursor to both
mandatory and market-based regulation of industrial gases that
contribute to warming.
All agree that the most important part of the new registry is
subjecting emissions statistics to third-party verification — unlike a
Bush administration program that does not require verification.
"You have to be able to count carbon pollution in order to cut carbon
pollution," said Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources
Defense Council.
"The registry gives business and policymakers an essential accounting
tool for tracking the success of the many emerging global warming
emission reduction initiatives that are blossoming across the
country."
The registry participants range from states that are moving
aggressively to impose mandatory greenhouse gas reduction policies to
others that are just beginning to examine whether to take even
voluntary steps.
"This includes a lot of deeply conservative states who have signed on
that we weren't expecting," said Nancy Whalen, spokeswoman for the
California Climate Action Registry, the only current statewide
emissions tracking system, which helped develop the multistate
program.
"We're all going to be measuring in the same way, so there's not going
to be a patchwork of different programs out there."
California registry officials worked closely with New England states
to develop the system.
The new registry will be based in Washington, D.C., and will have
regional offices.
It will begin tracking data in January.
Bob Malone, chairman and president of energy giant BP America, said:
"We believe a credible reporting system of greenhouse gas emissions is
the first step in developing government policy and corporate
programs."
BP produces and sells fuel to power plants, cars and trucks, the main
contributors to greenhouse gases.
The company is among several that applauded the creation of the
registry, believing that in time they can profit from accurate
reporting and reduction of their emissions.
Joining the registry is easy.
A governor just needs to sign off on its principles, which include
agreeing to "provide an accurate, complete, consistent, transparent
and verified set of greenhouse gas emissions data … supported by a
robust accounting and verification infrastructure."
The registry will be funded by industry fees, foundation donations and
public money.
Some Democrats criticized the Bush administration for not doing more,
leaving states to act.
"The Climate Registry is another example of how states are taking the
lead in the absence of federal action to address greenhouse gas
emissions in this country," said Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, a
Democrat, whose state is a charter member.
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Harry
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