Media Advisory
Nov. 2, 2012
Contact: Laura Rehrmann, press@c2es.org, 703-516-0621

California Cap and Trade In Context

This month, California will launch its cap-and-trade program, which uses a market-based mechanism to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

California’s program will be second in size only to the European Union’s Emissions Trading System based on the amount of emissions covered. The program will drive emission cuts in the world’s ninth largest economy and provide critical experience in how an economy-wide cap-and-trade system can function in the U.S.

California marks the start of its program with an auction for carbon emissions allowances on Nov. 14.

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions lays out the details of California’s cap and trade program, how it works, and how it compares with similar efforts in the U.S. and internationally.

California’s program is one example of efforts to move toward a low-carbon economy. C2ES experts can put California’s efforts in context and discuss how states and nations are seeking solutions to the challenge of providing safe, affordable reliable energy while at the same time protecting the global climate.

Contact Senior Communications Manager Laura Rehrmann at press@c2es.org or 703-516-4146.

About C2ES
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan organization promoting strong policy and action to address the twin challenges of energy and climate change. Launched in November 2011, C2ES is the successor to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Learn more at www.c2es.org.