California Governor Jerry Brown has signed an agreement with Washington, Oregon and British Columbia to align climate change policies and promote clean energy.
Under the plan, the jurisdictions agree to align programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement sets the stage for establishing low carbon fuel standards on the west coast in each jurisdiction.
California and British Columbia have already set standards. Anthony Leiserowitz with the Yale Project on Climate Change said the agreement will garner attention
"When an economy of that size begins to take significant action together to reduce emissions as well as prepare for the impacts, that can have an important contribution to the global fight against climate change," Leiserowitz said.
The region represents 53 million people and would be the world's fifth largest economy. The agreement also sets up greenhouse gas reduction goals for 2050.
