West Coast states and BC to link climate policies

The governors of Pacific coast U.S. states and a Canadian province are vowing to collectively combat climate change and promote clean energy.

Governors of California, Oregon, Washington and the premier of British Columbia on Monday gathered in San Francisco to commit to putting a price on carbon pollution throughout the region and mandate the use of cleaner-burning fuels.

California and British Columbia already have placed a price on greenhouse gas emissions – through cap-and-trade and a carbon tax, respectively – both Oregon and Washington legislatures have voted down such attempts.

The deal stems from the Pacific Coast Collaborative, a group meant to organize climate change and clean energy policies. It links together economies with a combined GDP of $2.8 trillion, the fifth largest in the world, according to Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown’s office.