While we still can ... before that window of opportunity closes, once more ...
PREAMBLE
THE GOVERNMENTS OF CALIFORNIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON, [...]
Affirming our shared vision of Pacific North America as a model of innovation that sustains our communities and creates jobs and new economic opportunities for our combined population of 53 million;
Recognizing that the Pacific Coast is a region bound together by a common geography, shared infrastructure and a regional economy with a combined GDP of US $2.8 trillion, which makes it the world's fifth largest;
Acknowledging the clear and convincing scientific evidence of climate change, ocean acidification and other impacts from increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which threaten our people, our economy and our natural resources;
Emphasizing that states and provinces around the world are battling climate change through technology innovation and actions that limit greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution while creating economic growth, consumer savings and new jobs;
Celebrating that our own governments have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by adopting regulatory, policy and market-based measures that shift energy generation to clean and renewable sources, manage energy use through greater efficiency and conservation, and enable and promote consumer choice for clean vehicles;
Recalling the findings of the 2012 West Coast Clean Economy report which projected 1.03 million new jobs could be created in key sectors, such as energy efficiency and advanced transportation, assuming the right policy environment;
Supporting positive federal action to combat climate change, including President Obama's climate action plan and proposed rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants;
Joining the growing international convergence on the need to secure an international agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, including discussions at the coming Conference of Parties meetings in Warsaw (2013), Lima (2014) and Paris (2015);
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NOW THEREFORE HEREBY AGREE TO ADVOCATE, ACT AND PARTNER AS FOLLOWS:
I. Lead national and international policy on climate change with actions to:
1) Account for the costs of carbon pollution in each jurisdiction.
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2) Harmonize 2050 targets for greenhouse gas reductions and develop mid-term targets needed to support long-term reduction goals.
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3) Affirm the need to inform policy with findings from climate science.
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4) Cooperate with national and sub-national governments around the world to press for an international agreement on climate change in 2015.
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5) Enlist support for research on ocean acidification and take action to combat it.
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II. Transition the West Coast to clean modes of transportation and reduce the large share of greenhouse gas emissions from this sector with actions to:
1, 2, 3, 4) [ ... high-speed rail ...]
III. Invest in clean energy and climate-resilient infrastructure with actions to:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5) [ ... emissions from power plants ...]
IV. Interpretation
This Action Plan is intended to spur finding new, smart ways for our governments, agencies and staff to work together, and with other governments and non-government partners, as appropriate, to add value, efficiency and effectiveness to existing and future initiatives, and to reduce overlap and duplication of effort, with the objective of reducing, not increasing, resource demands to achieve objectives that are shared.
V. Limitations
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Sometimes with some rather Large Steps too.