Mexican border states join California in fighting climate change

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Six Mexican border states pledged on Friday to strengthen cooperation with California in fighting climate change and increase green investment through Public Private Partnerships.

As part of the cooperation, the six Mexican border states -- Sonora, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas -- and California have joined together with Pacific Gas& Electric (PG&E) and the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR)in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to combat climate change, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said at an annual U.S-Mexican Border Governors Conference being held in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

California and the Mexican border states would work together to protect the environment while growing the economy, Schwarzenegger said.

"Mexico is an important environmental partner along our borders, and I applaud their efforts," Schwarzenegger said. "This first-of-its-kind public private partnership highlights Mexico's proven commitment to reduce global warming pollutants while providing an avenue for green industries to begin investing and creating jobs in the region."

Under the MOU, the signatories will engage in projects focused on reducing global warming pollutants while also providing the states on both sides of the border with clean air, water and reduced exposure to toxic pollutants.

PG&E's voluntary emissions reduction program, Climate Smart, gives residents in California the opportunity to voluntarily offset their global warming emissions in projects that address the clean air and water goals as well, according to Schwarzenegger.

The states will collaborate with PG&E and CCAR to choose projects based on their ability to provide substantial pollutant offsets while economically benefiting PG&E, its customers and the industries in which investment is made, said the governor.

The MOU will help lead the way toward increasing green investment, increasing green jobs, stimulating the economies of the six Mexican Border States and reducing the pollutants contaminating our atmosphere, he said.

"Through today's partnership, PG&E continues to demonstrate that we must take action now to fight global warming and to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel," said Peter Darbee, Chairman, CEO, and President of PG&E.

"This partnership will not only help PG&E's Climate Smart program reduce emissions on behalf of its customers through added projects, it will also drive innovation in the voluntary carbon market."

California attracts nearly 50 percent of all green tech venture capital investment in the U.S., and with continued effort, the Mexican border states will increase their share in the emerging green economy.