PACIFIC COAST LEADERS BUILD REGIONAL COLLABORATION

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING – A new Pacific Coast Collaborative agreement between British Columbia, Washington, California, Oregon and Alaska will forge a new partnership and a forum for leadership, co-operative action, and a common voice on issues affecting the Pacific coast region.

The agreement establishing the Pacific Coast Collaborative was announced today by B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

“The Pacific Coast Collaborative builds on the consensus among B.C. and other coastal jurisdictions on climate change to create engagement among leaders for cooperative action on critical issues facing the region,” Premier Campbell said. “Together, Alaska, B.C., California, Oregon, and Washington represent more than 95,500 kilometres of coastline, and we share common concerns and ideas for action and a network of connections between us. This is the first agreement that brings the Pacific leaders together as a common front to set a co-operative direction into the Pacific century.”

“In a world with increasingly complex challenges such as dealing with climate change, ocean health, security, or regional economic growth and stability, we require solutions that are global, regional, and local,” said Governor Gregoire. “Washington is proud of our leadership role at all levels, but particularly pleased to announce this path-breaking regional agreement that is at once both interstate and international.”

“One state alone cannot solve the fight against climate change, or protect our entire ocean, or clean the air we all share – but together, we have the tremendous power to protect our environment,” Governor Schwarzenegger said. “That’s why these partnerships are so important – they allow us to team up to really protect our precious resources, forests, our oceans and more in a regional approach.”

“This agreement builds on the strong relationship we have on climate action and takes the relationship to a new level of collaboration,” said Governor Kulongoski.

“I am proud to join other leaders in the Pacific Northwest to sign the Pacific Coast Collaborative,” said Governor Palin. “The impacts of climate change in Alaska are already occurring—coastal erosion, increased storm effects, sea ice retreat and permafrost melt. The Pacific Coast Collaborative will give us the opportunity to share knowledge, experience and resources.”

The Pacific Coast Collaborative will meet at least once a year, with the chair and the meeting location rotating annually through each jurisdiction. These meetings will be a forum for information sharing and create the opportunity for collaborative action by several or all of the members together.

The Pacific Coast Collaborative will see information sharing and co-operation on clean energy; regional transportation; innovation, research and development; enhancing a sustainable regional economy, especially with respect to environmental good and services; emergency management; and other future topics.

The plan to build the Pacific Coast Collaborative was announced in the British Columbia Speech from the Throne in 2007. Agreements signed to take action on climate change in 2007 between B.C. and California, Washington and Oregon have laid the foundation for further collaboration between the jurisdictions.

- 30 -

Media Contacts:

Bridgitte Anderson

Press Secretary

Office of the Premier of British Columbia

604 307-7177

Washington Governor's Communications Office

360 902-4136

Jillian E. Schoene

Deputy Communications Director

Office of the Governor of Oregon

503 378-5040 phone

Alaska Governor’s Communications Office

907 269-7450

Lisa Page

Chief Deputy Press Secretary

Office of the Governor of California

916 445-4571

1 backgrounder(s) attached.


For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.