Richardson Campaign Press Release - New Mexico Joins Climate Registry to Track Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Agreement Among Thirty-One States Provides Basis for National Emissions Reduction Program

(Santa Fe, NM) – Today, New Mexico joins the Climate Registry that enables states to track greenhouse gas emissions and creates the foundation for a national cap and trade system. The thirty-one charter states represent more than 70 percent of the U.S. population and are part of the largest national effort to take action on climate change.

"Once again, the states know that on Global Warming the time to act is now. We can't afford to wait for Washington. New Mexico is proud to join the Climate Registry as a charter member, and help create a uniform means of tracking greenhouse gas emissions," Governor Bill Richardson said. "This paves the way for a national cap and trade emissions program—one of the most effective means of reducing carbon emissions."

"The registry is good for business," said New Mexico Environment Secretary Ron Curry. "Businesses who already exceeded emissions targets will receive credit for those savings and can sell credits to other to companies who didn't meet targets. One ton of carbon in New Mexico will equal one ton of carbon in the states who are members of the registry."

The list of founding member states and tribes includes the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Campo Kumeyaay Nation. Two Canadian provinces, British Columbia and Manitoba, have also committed to participate.

Participants range from states that have been moving forward with aggressive mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction programs, to those that are taking initial steps to address the challenge. Both Republican and Democratic governors are well represented and the states are geographically diverse.

The newly formed climate registry is a tool to measure, track, verify and publicly report GHG emissions accurately, transparently and consistently across borders and industry sectors. This is a critical first step in developing robust programs to reduce GHG emissions. The Registry will support voluntary, market-based and regulatory GHG emissions reporting programs.

"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 (NRDC). "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."

"We believe a credible reporting system of greenhouse gas emissions is the first step in developing government policy and corporate programs that will change behaviors, spark innovation and deliver reductions of greenhouse gas emissions," said Bob Malone, Chairman and President of BP America.

Today's announcement signals the launch of an unprecedented cooperative effort in North America. By working together, Registry members are laying the foundation for climate actions that will benefit generations to come.

For more information, including Frequently Asked Questions and a graphical map of the states, visit www.theclimateregistry.org