Updated: Fri Sep. 11 2009 17:51:34

The Canadian Press

Canada's Western premiers say three heads are better than one when it comes to figuring out how to fight global warming by blasting carbon emissions deep underground.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, B.C.'s Gordon Campbell and Brad Wall of Saskatchewan inked a deal Friday pledging to work together on carbon capture and storage technology.

They said co-operation can help defray the costs of the very expensive technology, which would take carbon dioxide from big polluters such as the oilsands and coal-fired power plants, liquefy it and pump it into underground caverns.

"There's no point in British Columbia trying to invent the things they've already invented in Alberta. We don't have enough resources not to be thoughtful about how we're investing," said Campbell.

"We can create a ... critical centre of science, of the developments that have taken place, so we build on one another as opposed to compete with one another."

Carbon is already being stored in Weyburn, southeast of Regina. The province is also working with Montana for carbon to be captured in Saskatchewan and shipped to the U.S. state for storage.

Alberta has committed $2 billion for carbon storage test projects, and similar plans are being explored in British Columbia.

"What we said today is we share some common geology, we share a lot of different research, new technology," said Stelmach. "Let's not chase something new in every province, let's talk about it."

The agreement will signal to researchers and businesses involved in developing the technology that it's time to work together, said Campbell.

Both Wall and Stelmach pointed out that industry is expected to shoulder much of the cost of developing the technology, especially as it also shows promise in helping enhance oil recovery.

But Wall said governments are aware they'll have to kick in a lot of money to make it work and in Saskatchewan they are prepared to do that.

Campbell said Canada is ahead of the U.S. in developing carbon capture technology and everyone could benefit from figuring out the best ways to do it first.

"We've actually been ahead of that game. We want to be ahead of it, we want to export those technologies and those solutions around the world as we deal with the challenges of climate change."

Some critics question the technology, saying little is known about its long-term impacts or the possibility of leakage, but Alberta and Canada have so far made it a key part of future carbon reduction plans.

The three premiers also signed an economic partnership deal for free trade among the three provinces that will also focus on international marketing.

They also signalled an intention to go ahead with a push to set up a voluntary pension plan for the 80 per cent of private sector works in the three provinces who aren't covered by plans run by their employer.

British Columbia originally spearheaded the proposal, with Alberta and Saskatchewan signing on in the spring. Campbell said federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and other provinces have expressed interest in creating a countrywide plan, but his government isn't willing to wait into the new year.

"What we've said is, we'll give you until December, put the thing together. We've got to get on with this, we don't want to take a lot of time," he said.

The cabinets from the three provinces also continued talks on safer communities, agreeing to continue to lobby the federal government on issues around bail and credits given to people for time served in remand. They also agreed to set up a shared database of gang members.

Stelmach and Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie also signed a co-operation agreement Friday. The agreement touches on areas such as climate change, education, health care and trade.