Tel Aviv, Israel, December 21, 2005.

Reuters published December 20, 2005 that Seven NE States of the USA, broke with President Bush and their Governors, some Republicans and some Democrats, including New York State Republican Governor Pataki, have signed the country’s first plan to create a market for heat-trapping CO2, by curbing emissions at power plants. This is a Kyoto Protocol Mechanism which was rejected by President Bush.

Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont are these seven states. Starting 2006 each state will initiate legislation or regulatory actions in this respect.

The discussions to get to this decision were started in 2003 and there was the expectation that two more states will join this pact - Massachusetts, Rhode Island, as well as several Canadian Provinces starting with Quebec and going eastwards. Such a larger setting was expected as a result of negotiations presented at the Montreal meeting. Some of the other governments may yet accede to the pact.