Background

THE REGIONAL CONSENSUS
In August 2001 the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) announced the Climate Change Action Plan, which commits the region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2010, 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 and by 75-85% in the long term.

Improving climate science indicates that aggressive action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions toward the ultimate goals of stabilizing the earth’s climate and eliminating the negative impacts of climate change

-- New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers, Climate Change Action Plan 2001 (PDF)

REGIONAL ACTION ON POWER PLANTS
In 2003 the governors of all six New England States began to work with New York, New Jersey, and Delaware to create a regional program to cut greenhouse gas pollution from power plants.

The initiative, officially known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), is expected to significantly reduce the Northeast’s contribution to global warming and become a model for similar programs in other states. Action at the state level also adds to the growing pressure on federal lawmakers to move more quickly toward a national solution. Seven states announced the release of the program in December 2005. Massachusetts and Rhode Island decided not to participate in the program.

For more information about this initiative, visit the official website: www.rggi.org.