California signs on to the ‘insurgent’ alliance
Most populous state joins with Ontario, Quebec in deal to reduce carbon emissions
The most powerful subnational leader in the world says he, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Quebec’s Philippe Couillard are “insurgent forces” in the global fight to curb climate change.
California Gov. Jerry Brown, whose state has the world’s sixth-largest economy — larger than that of Canada, France or India — said it does not matter what President Donald Trump or the U.S. Congress does to try to derail efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Whatever anyone else does and whatever Mr. Trump does in Washington, China is on the move with a carbon market,” Brown said in Quebec City as California, Quebec and Ontario signed an agreement to formally link their carbon markets.
“There’s a lot of money on the other side and that’s the status quo. We’re the insurgent forces transforming. That’s where it’s at. In our systems, the subnational jurisdictions have a power,” he said, noting states and provinces can oversee clean-air standards, building codes, and promote electric vehicles.
As of Jan. 1, Ontario’s emissions cap programs will be integrated with Quebec and California, allowing the three jurisdictions to hold joint carbon auctions and harmonize regulations.
“This is the next step in a long and difficult journey to de-carbonize the economies of the world. We’re decarbonizing our own economies but then setting in motion the example that will be picked up by other provinces, other states, and other regions around the world,” the governor said.
Wynne noted that although Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government is supportive of the current initiative, former prime minister Stephen Harper was not. “Remember when I and Premier Couillard moved on this and made these decisions, we were living in a country that had a federal government that was not interested in working with us,” the premier said.
“That’s the importance of the sub- nationals,” she said.
“We are now standing here having agreed on creating the largest carbon market in North America. It is an extremely important step. The two largest provinces, the biggest state, working together.”
The Ontario- Quebec-California cap-and-trade alliance puts a price on carbon.
Under the system, businesses have greenhouse gas emission limits — or caps — and those who pollute less can sell or trade credits.
This should create an economic incentive to reduce emissions and, in time, an industry’s overall cap will be lowered to cut pollution.
But Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown said he will scrap the accord if his party topples Wynne’s Liberals in the June 2018 election because it “does nothing to protect the environment.”
“All it does is ships hundreds of millions of dollars into the California economy,” he said. “We shouldn’t be subsidizing the wealthy in Beverly Hills, especially while families here at home are working harder, paying more, and getting less.”