Group proposes climate-saving strategy

Tired of a lack of leadership at the national level, Western leaders are taking charge on curbing climate change by proposing a plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

The Western Climate Initiative -- a coalition of seven states, including Washington and four Canadian provinces -- on Wednesday released a draft strategy to "cap and trade" releases of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases.

"It's a proud day. No states have ever done this before," said Janice Adair, the initiative's chairwoman and special assistant to the director of the Washington Ecology Department. "It's a huge, huge deal that we got this done..."