The Western Climate Initiative grew its membership this week at an annual meeting of Western Governors. The goal of the Initiative is to enable western states to reduce their global warming pollution and to do so by way of a regional cap-and-trade system.

The WCI is now eight strong and includes New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and the Provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba in Canada.

Governor Ritter has yet to decide whether Colorado will become a part of the Initiative and sent representatives to sit in and observe the proceedings this week.

Colorado must be more than an observer in this process. We've already taken the lead with a 20% renewable energy standard; it is now time to take a stand on global warming.

As the state that has the 5th greatest solar potential and the 11th greatest wind resources in the nation, Colorado only stands to gain from acting on this growing problem. Reducing our emissions will place us at the cusp of our nation's new energy economy, allowing us to sell our abundant renewable resources to those states in the market for more clean energy.

Reducing our emissions is critical to maintaining Colorado's natural integrity, protecting our water supply, looking after our farmers and tourism industry, and guarding Coloradan consumers from the costs associated with higher energy costs and the effects of climate change. Participating in a regional cap-and-trade system will incentivize Colorado industry and business to clean-up their act and those that take the lead in the new energy economy will stand to profit from the market-based system.

As a state that has much to lose and even more to gain in taking action against global warming, it is time for Governor Ritter to join our neighbors in fighting global warming.

Written by Amy Keagan, Global Warming Organizer