A Canadian Rendezvous for California Cap-and-Trade

"The California Air Resources Board on Friday linked its program for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and curbing climate change with one in the French-speaking, Canadian province of Quebec," reports Marc Lifsher. Beginning on January 1 of next year, pollution permits can be traded between the two programs.

"Last fall, California emitters began purchasing the permits quarterly at state-supervised auctions. The free-market mechanism, authorized by the state's landmark global-warming law, AB 32, puts a price on carbon-dioxide pollution. Expanding the program to Quebec creates a laboratory for broadening the trading system to other U.S. states, Canadian provinces and nations, said Dave Clegern, an Air Resources Board spokesman."

"But skeptics say they're unimpressed with California's program and its new partner," notes Lifsher.