Five Northeast states, D.C., agree to create regional initiative for carbon emissions reductions

Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and the District of Columbia recently announced that they will work together on a carbon emissions reduction strategy based on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

The states will use market-based measures, among others, to collaborate on reducing emissions from the transportation sector.

"Today's announcement represents a tremendous step forward for cutting pollution while supporting clean transportation policies, including greater mobility options and less need for driving in these six localities,” Natural Resources Defense Council Energy and Transportation Program Director Kit Kennedy said.

The agreement comes after climate change progress in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo tasked the New York Public Service Commission to require half of the state’s electricity comes from solar, wind, offshore wind and other renewable sources.

“This groundbreaking announcement to pursue a multi-state strategy to cut transportation sector emissions also is significant because it represents additional clean energy leadership by New York this week and comes on the eve of the Paris climate talks where collaboration will be essential if we are to solve the greatest challenge of our time – climate change,” Kennedy said.