| WCI Releases Draft Cap and Trade Framework | 11 August 08 |
 The Western Climate Initiative released its draft design framework for a broad cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions July 23, 2008. Membership in WCI includes: Manitoba, British Columbia, Quebec, Ontario, and several US state governments.The cap would force polluting companies to pay for emissions they created and would apply to all companies and sites emitting more than 25,000 tonnes of "carbon dioxide equivalents" per year. Climate advocates are supportive of the intent and overall direction of the WCI, but were cautiously critical of the draft cap-and-trade recommendations. They expressed disappointment at initial caps being set at business-as-usual levels and that the framework wouldn't bring large polluters into the system until 2012, and even 2015 for some. WWF Canada, the Pembina Institute and the David Suzuki Foundation say that the WCI partners should:
The plan is open for public review and comments until mid-August and is scheduled to be finalized September 2008. View July 23, 2008 Draft Design Recommendations for the WCI cap-and-trade program (PDF)View July 24, 2008 Globe and Mail article View July 24, 2008 Vancouver Sun article View July 29, 2008 Toronto Star article View July 28, 2008 WWF Canada press release View July 2008 David Suzuki Foundation/Pembina Institute backgrouner, Western Climate Initiative San Diego Meeting July 29, 2008 (PDF) View more information on the WCI from Manitoba Wildlands View July 2008 WeCAN comments on the WCI draft: WeCAN comments with points for all WCI Subcommittees (PDF) WeCAN comments on Forests, Land Use and Land Use Change (PDF) Sources: Toronto Star, WWF Canada, David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute, Globe and Mail, Vancouver Sun |
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