Newsdate Aug. 27: New England, Canada May Leapfrog Kyoto

On Aug. 27, 2001, a conference of six New England states and five Eastern Canadian provinces will consider a groundbreaking strategy for reducing greenhouse gasses in the region. If approved, this agreement would mark the first time the governments have officially acknowledged climate change as a substantial problem, and would fly in the face of President Bush's decision to back out of the Kyoto climate-change agreement.

The 26th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers will be held in Westbrook, Conn. on Aug. 26-28, 2001. Last year, the group approved a resolution to look into a regional strategy.

• New England Governors Conference: John Shea, 617-423-6900. He says that NEGC will consider the draft proposal (still under construction) on Aug. 27, 2001. If approved, the document will be available that same afternoon.
• Eastern Canadian Premiers Secretariat (Halifax, Nova Scotia): Resolutions/Press Releases, RhealPoirier, 902-424-5905.