Cool News
Midwest Governors agree to reduce global warming pollution
In Milwaukee, governors of 12 Midwestern states met to discuss regional and complementary policies to tackle 
global warming at the Midwestern Governor’s Association Energy Summit. Six Midwestern governors and the premier of Manitoba pledged to work together to slash emissions linked to global warming over the coming decades.
The biggest news to hit the summit is a Midwest agreement to a regional cap-and-trade policy to limit greenhouse gas pollution. The Midwest alone is responsible for more global warming pollution than any country other than China, India, Japan and the former Soviet Union so the effect of this agreement is huge. The Midwest now joins the ranks of both the Northeast and the West to enact a cap-and-trade system.
The agreement marks a significant step forward on key clean energy development and global warming solutions policies. ELPC’s Executive Director, Howard Learner stated, “The Governors’ bold path to reduce global warming pollution will grow more green jobs for the Midwest economy.”
Learn more:
Read the text of the midwest governors’ accord (pdf file). 
Listen to a press conference held by environmental groups discussing the pact.
Read news coverage at Grist, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel,the Environment News Service and The Daily Green.
Elsewhere around the nation: Pressure for action on global warming is being turned up another notch with a national television ad campaign featuring three Western governors urging passage of legislation before the Senate. The ad, produced by Environmental Defense, features Arnold Schwarzenegger, Republican of California; Jon Huntsman Jr., Republican of Utah; and Montana Democrat Brian Schweitzer. The legislation would cap carbon emissions at 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and set up a system for polluting industries to trade emissions credits to meet the goals.
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November 17th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Why not name names - such as Exxon/Mobil, etc.?
November 18th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Pollution reduction and renewable energy go hand-in-hand. The governors’ action needs to be the beginning of using solar and biofuels to distribute energy production, working with FERC to distribute wind energy from the plain states east across the midwest to New England and stimulating the research and demonstrations that will grow algae for its energy value. Renewable energy can help the midwest remake America as a land of opportunity.
November 19th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I am so confused, I haven’t seen coverage of this anywhere! What exactly is signing as an observer? I looked on Ohio Governor Strickland’s website and it didn’t even mention this. I emailed his office and I haven’t recieved a response yet.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Susan, we were surprised more mainstream media didn’t pick up the story on the Midwest pact, too. As noted above, the Milwaukee newspaper covered it, and so did Twin Cities newspapers. But many big papers in the region ignored the story, and so did broadcast outlets. We suggest you let them know that you’re disappointed in them!