WASHINGTON, DC (October 28, 2013) – Today, the Pacific Coast Collaborative, three West Coast governors and the Premier of British Columbia, released an historic climate pact agreement, setting a price on carbon, setting benchmarks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and investing in clean energy and climate-resilient infrastructure. The following is a statement from BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster:

“The BlueGreen Alliance is proud to support the historic efforts of the Pacific Coast Collaborative. This agreement puts a price on carbon in what amounts to the 5^th largest economy in the world. No single policy could be more important in driving the innovation and job creation of the 21^st Century.

“Policies that make infrastructure climate-smart and investment-ready, advance the domestic renewable energy industry, and adopt low-carbon fuel standards follow closely behind in terms of proven effective policies that create jobs and protect the environment. When government provides direction and incentives for the private sector to solve our biggest challenges, our economy always does its best. We are especially pleased that the Pacific Coast Collaborative has concentrated on economic opportunities and job creation in moving forward with this initiative.

“We can’t solve our environmental challenges in a society that can’t offer a good job to every American who wants to work or where opportunity is considered a privilege, instead of an American birthright. Thank you and congratulations for putting forward a far-sighted approach that will yield innumerable benefits for years to come. We look forward to working together on this initiative.”