The Premier of British Columbia, the governors of Oregon and Washington, and the California secretary for environmental protection, on behalf of the governor of California, met today to mark the 10th anniversary of the Pacific Coast Collaborative (PCC), and identify opportunities to further strengthen collaboration. 

The leaders announced joint actions on critical issues facing all four jurisdictions, including co-ordinated efforts to address climate change, environmental protection, trade and the overdose crisis.

“Today’s announcements reflect the urgent need to work beyond borders to protect our shared environment, take action on climate change, stop the overdose crisis and support mutually beneficial trade,” said Premier John Horgan. “We have so much in common. I’m very optimistic about what we can achieve by tackling challenges together, and working to deliver strong, sustainable economic development that works for people on the West Coast.”

“For the past decade, the PCC has helped propel our region to the forefront of climate action. We’re ready to tackle the next decade of collaboration on climate and so many other issues, including the destructive scourge of substance-use disorders that too many of our friends, family and neighbours face,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said. “All of the leaders here today recognize our shared history and future, and I’m pleased to join with them to continue our efforts together.”

The group reaffirmed their strong commitment to meaningful action on climate change. They acknowledged that carbon pricing can effectively, efficiently and fairly reduce carbon pollution. 

“As we, on the West Coast, face common challenges and navigate new global dynamics, being unified and working toward solutions together is more important than ever before,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said. “The Pacific Coast Collaborative is a model of co-operation and is the embodiment of the values West Coast leaders share. Strengthening our commitment to combat climate change, and expanding our focus on a number of issues our communities care deeply about sends a strong message that progress is better achieved by working together than alone.”

“The Pacific Coast states and province are working together to build a thriving economy, while reducing harmful carbon pollution,” said California secretary for environmental protection Matt Rodriquez, who attended the meeting on behalf of California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. “Through our shared culture of innovation, we view the challenge of climate change as an opportunity to develop new markets, attract investment and create jobs in the growing clean economy. By actively co-ordinating and aligning our policies, our governments are accelerating this transition and spurring greater innovation. We look forward to sharing our successes and encouraging greater ambition when we join with other subnational leaders this fall at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.”

The jurisdictions also committed to ending the stigma and discrimination associated with addiction and substance-use disorders, and to identify areas of future co-operation that will enable an effective and compassionate response to the overdose crisis.

The Premier and governors also discussed the enduring partnership and mutually beneficial trade Canada and the United States enjoy, and committed to further strengthening cross-border trade relationships.

The leaders acknowledged shared goals and a deepened commitment to work together to create a better future for the West Coast.

Quick Facts:

• The Pacific Coast Collaborative was formed in 2008 as a forum for co-operative action, leadership and information sharing.
• Together, the jurisdictions represent the world’s fifth-largest economy and 55 million people.
• Since 2005, regional GDP has grown by 20%, while total region-wide emissions have declined by more than 6%.
• From 2010 to 2014, West Coast clean-economy jobs grew more than twice as fast as regional jobs overall. As of 2014, more than half a million West Coast residents worked in clean-economy jobs, reflecting nearly 20% growth since 2010. 
• Trade between the U.S. and Canada creates and supports jobs in all four jurisdictions. Nearly 1.5 million jobs in California, Oregon and Washington depend on trade and investment with Canada. 

Learn More:

Pacific Coast Collaborative: http://pacificcoastcollaborative.org/

Official communique: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/PCC_Communique_Final.pdf 

Overdose Statement of Agreement: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Statement_of_Cooperation_on_Responding_to_the_Overdose_Crisis.pdf