"Climate change is considered one of the most important environmental issues of our time since it will affect all of these aspects of our natural environment. Although climate change can be caused by both natural processes and human activities, scientific studies have shown that recent warming can be largely attributed to human activity, primarily the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The potential impacts of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions are far-reaching, affecting all Canadians, our economy, infrastructure, and health, the landscapes around us, and the wildlife that inhabit them. As an Arctic nation the effects of climate change in the North will be important to Canadians. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is everyone’s responsibility and governments, businesses and consumers all have a role to play.

Most greenhouse gases have both natural and human-caused sources. However, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), human-caused emissions are tipping the balance towards climate change as they disrupt the natural processes occurring in the atmosphere. Hence policy measures are focused on human-caused emissions. Likewise, all emissions in this report refer to anthropogenic (human-caused) emissions. Canada is a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Canada signed onto the Copenhagen Accord in December 2009 and committed to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. This represents a significant challenge in light of strong economic growth: Canada’s economy is projected to be approximately 31% larger (in real terms) in 2020 compared to 2005 levels."

http://ec.gc.ca/Publications/default.asp?lang=En&xml=1723EA20-77AB-4954-9333-69D1C4EBD0B2

California Air Resources Board: AB 32 Scoping Plan Economic Analysis

"The Climate Change Scoping Plan provides California's blueprint for reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 as directed by AB 32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. In approving the Scoping Plan, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) directed ARB staff to update the analysis of the economic effects of implementing the Plan. That updated economic analysis, documented in this report, profited from consultation with members of the Economic and Allocation Advisory Committe (EAAC), appointed by California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Secretary Linda Adams and ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. EAAC consists of top economists, business and financial leaders."

http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/economics-sp/economics-sp.htm

Western Climate Initiative: Analysis of Regional Cap and Trade Program

"This report summarizes the results of an economic analysis conducted by the Partner jurisdictions of the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). It updates the results of a 2008 economic analysis that informed the design of the WCI regional cap-and-trade program, which will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contributing to climate change, spur development of new clean-energy jobs and technologies, and help achieve a strong economy."

http://www.westernclimateinitiative.org/document-archives/Economic-Modeling-Team-Documents/2010-Economic-Analysis/

National Round Table on the Environment and Economy: Getting to 2050: Canada’s Transition to a Low-Emission Future

"Climate change is upon us.  Scientific studies are increasingly confident in the assessment of the relationship between observed climate warming and impacts on the earth. They are concluding that a large part of this change is directly related to human sources of greenhouse gases (GHG). Reducing the GHG emissions we put into the atmosphere is central to contributing to the global objective to achieve the stabalization of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous climate change.

Reducing our own GHG emissions means that Canada is facing a transition to a low emissions society - a transition that will be driven by environmental, economic and social factors. We have a substantial national interest in understanding and anticipating the nature and scope of that change and in proactively seeking to manage our response, with respect to both mitigation and adaptation measures, in a way that benefits Canada. This Advisory Report addresses the issue of how to mitigate potential effects of climate change, through deep emission reductions. The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) is also working on the issue of adaptation to climate change and will report on this research in 2008."

http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/webarchives2/20130322142934/http:/nrtee-trnee.ca/climate/getting-to-2050

Wisconsin’s Strategy for Reducing Global Warming 

"The Report addresses each of the assignments set forth in Executive Order 191 in ways that will make Wisconsin a leader in addressing the significant challenges presented by climate change, substantially reduce Wisconsin's dependence on fossil fuel and advance the state's energy independence objectives. The Report recommends aggressive short and long-term goals for reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are consistent with Wisconsin's proportionate share of the reductions needed worldwide to minimize the impacts of global warming." 

http://www.wicci.wisc.edu/download.php?fl=wisconsin_gov_taskforce_final_2008.pdf

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality: A Study of Economic Impacts from the Implementation of a Renewable Portfolio Standard and an Energy Efficiency Program in Michigan

"Michigan currently imports 90% of its energy from out of state, at a cost exceeding $18 billion per year (projected to increase as imported energy prices rise). At the same time, these same policymakers and business leaders see an opportunity to leverage our state's entrepreneurial and manufacturing strengths by deliberately focusing them on the energy industry, with the desired outcome of generating not only more energy within Michigan, but generating more jobs for Michigan workers, and aiding Michigan's economy by reducing the amount of energy we must purchase from out of state fossil fuel and electricity supplies."

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-ess-MichiganRPS-EE-FinalReport_193745_7.pdf

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation: 2002 Energy Efficiency Activities

"As part of the Electric Restructuring Act of 1997, or "the Act", the Legislature created electric ratepayer funded energy efficiency programs. Intended to provide energy efficiency services to all classes of electric utility customers, these programs must meet the standards of the Overall Statewide Energy Efficiency Goal and its supporting objectives provided for within the Act. Additionally, the Act mandates that Division of Energy Resources file annual reports with the Legislature on the results of the energy efficiency programs and whether they are meeting the Statewide Goal."

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/doer/electric-deregulation/ee02-long.pdf

Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group: Report

"On October 5, 2006, Governor Blagojevich launched his Global Warming Initiative by signing an Executive Order that created the Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group (ICCAG). The Governor changed the ICCAG with recommending state-level strategies to meet his statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, which are similar to goals set by other states and those proposed in Congress:

• 1990 levels by 2020
• 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050

Scientists believe that greenhouse gas reductions of this magnitude are needed to avoid significant consequences due to climate change."

http://www.epa.state.il.us/air/climatechange/

Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism: Policy Recommendations for Hawaii’s Energy Future

"The purpose of this report is to provide strategy and policy recommendations to Hawaii's 2007 Energy Strategy. This Hawaii Energy Strategy (HES) Program was initiated in 1992 under a Cooperative Agreement with the United States Department of Energy (USDOE). The purpose of this report is to assist State of Hawaii planners and policy makers, members of the Hawaii energy community, and residents to better understand the State's current energy situation, set a vision for their energy future, and outline necessary steps to achieve this vision under different scenarios in the future. This report is intended to support and help ensure achievement of the State Energy Objectives."

http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/storage/pdfs/Policy%20Recommendations%20for%20Hawaii's%20Energy%20Future.pdf