Cap and trade: Emissions reductions at low cost

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has an approved blueprint for reducing the state's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, or about 18% below the business-as-usual level, the goal set out in Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32).

The Scoping Plan contains the main strategies for California to cut climate change pollutants, including direct regulations, incentives, voluntary actions and market-based mechanisms such as a cap-and-trade system. CARB continues to work to ensure effective and adaptive policy design in the Scoping Plan, and will adopt the first set of revisions to the AB 32 Scoping Plan beginning in 2013.

EDF considers cap and trade the cornerstone of California's long-range effort to spur innovation, attract investment, grow jobs and reduce harmful emissions at the lowest possible cost.

See how cap and trade works

Next steps in cap-and-trade program

CARB is working with stakeholders to design a cap-and-trade program that is enforceable and meets AB 32 requirements, including the need to prevent adverse impacts on communities historically burdened by pollution and to avoid relocation of jobs to states with less stringent climate laws.

In November 2010, CARB released a preliminary draft version of California's cap-and-trade regulation. In 2011, CARB finalized and officially adopted the regulation. Though originally scheduled to start on January 1, 2012, CARB modified implementation one year while keeping targets intact.

Our policy analysts, legal experts, and economists provided recommendations on a range of subjects, including program scope, carbon accounting, offsets, cost containment, community benefits, and enforcement. We are continuing to work with CARB to provide science-based expertise that supports due diligence and the rule-making process.

Regional cap-and-trade program ensures reductions at low costs

Throughout the design of the state’s climate pollution regulation, California  has collaborated with several other sub-national governments in North and South America to support the design of linked cap-and-trade programs. As California moves forward with the implementation of its own cap-and-trade market in 2013, CARB is also expected to link with Quebec’s recently approved cap-and-trade program.

The opportunity for linkage, enabled by harmonized program design, promises to deliver greater regional emission reductions at lower costs than could be realized through a California-only program. EDF is also working to support the successful design and implementation of other programs across North and South America that may be able to effectively link to achieve maximum environmental and economic benefits.