by the US Environmental Defense Fund
California’s state motto is “Eureka,” (Greek for “I found it”) referring to the discovery of California gold in 1848. Shortly thereafter, the Golden State quickly became the land of opportunity, spurring new technologies and catapulting California to the forefront of global innovation.
While California may no longer be flush with gold, it remains a leader in emerging industries, innovation, and technology. In 2013, it stayed true to its pioneering spirit with the successful launch of the state’s ambitious cap-and-trade program, which is now attracting international interest.
All metrics indicate that a strong, healthy, and enduring carbon market was established in California during its first year of cap and trade, amidst a recovering economy and continuing job growth . The state has seen five successful auctions of carbon credits and an actively traded secondary market. Through this market mechanism, California has placed a price and a cap on carbon pollution while holding the state’s top polluting companies accountable for spewing harmful emissions. Carbon credit prices have been both reasonable and stable, evidence of a smooth transition to a capped economy with none of the catastrophic results predicted by the program’s opponents.
To mark the one-year anniversary of cap and trade in California, EDF will be releasing an in-depth analysis of the program’s first year on January 8th. This report examines the state’s progress in implementing the cap-and-trade regulation and includes market performance analysis by industry experts and academics, details on auction outcomes and identification of trading trends on the secondary market. It also covers updates regarding ongoing litigation, proposed regulatory amendments and international collaboration. From the extensive data presented in this report, it is evident that cap and trade in California is off to a successful start.
Though challenges lay ahead, there is no doubt that California will rise to the challenge of accommodating the emerging carbon market. As it did during the Gold Rush, the state will continue to develop new technologies and build infrastructure while serving as a model to the world.
With the close of the first year of cap and trade, it is clear that California has found something more valuable than gold – a viable cap-and-trade program that gives the state a chance to address climate change, one of the biggest challenges of our time, and usher in a new era of opportunity and prosperity.
- See more at: http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/2014/01/02/californias-pioneering-spirit-endures-under-cap-and-trade/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CaliforniaDream20+%28California+Dream+2.0%29#sthash.hcQb8RLF.dpuf
