Ontario Joins The Western Climate Initiative

On July 18, 2008, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) announced its intention to admit Ontario as its newest partner, one day after the province made its formal membership request. With the addition of Ontario, the WCI comprises seven U.S. states and four Canadian provinces that have undertaken to establish a regional cap-and-trade program for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Ontario has been participating in the WCI as an observer since August 2007 and will now become a full partner with British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

The WCI plans to establish an absolute cap on regional GHG emissions, effective January 1, 2012, which would initially target reductions of 15% below 2005 emissions by 2020. This target is consistent with Ontario's goal of reducing the province's emissions by 6% below 1990 levels by 2014, and 15% below