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Five western US states to bypass Bush on climate

Like seven eastern US states before them, five western states have formed a regional pact that bypasses the Bush administration to cut emissions linked to global warming through market mechanisms, according to Oregon's governor, Ted Kulongoski.

Oregon, California, Washington, New Mexico and Arizona have agreed to develop a regional target for reducing greenhouse emissions in six months, according to Kulongoski.

Over the next 18 months, the states' governors will devise a market-based programme, such as a load-based cap-and-trade program, to reach the target. The five states also have agreed to participate in a multi-state registry to track and manage greenhouse gas emissions in their region.

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