At the beginning of this year, California and Quebec linked their greenhouse gas cap-and-trade programs. This means that sources of greenhouse gases in each jurisdiction can trade emission allowances issued under either program. This linkage represents a key step forward in developing international cooperative mechanisms to address climate change. As a result, there is a lot at stake in making this program successful, and some important questions for how to do this remain to be answered. What are the pitfalls to avoid going forward? How can California and Quebec best coordinate the joint auctions scheduled later this year? How can we further expand this program and encourage other regulators to create regional linkages?
This symposium takes on these issues and other topics related to the California-Quebec linkage, featuring panels of academics and policymakers from the United States and Canada.