Press Release: CA Cap-and-Invest Reauthorization a Significant Milestone Toward Linkage of California, Québec, and Washington Carbon Markets

This joint press release from Clean & Prosperous California and Clean & Prosperous Washington highlights California’s September 13, 2025, vote to reauthorize its cap-and-invest program through 2045, a move that aligns the state’s carbon market timeline and ambition with Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. This is a major milestone toward linking the carbon markets of California, Washington, and Québec, which would provide near and long-term benefits, including greater market stability, lower compliance costs, stronger investment signals, and enhanced long-term emissions reductions. California regulators will now undertake rulemaking to implement the legislative changes, while Washington continues its own linkage preparations, with a target of formally connecting the markets by 2027.

“Cap-and-invest is the most affordable way to hit California’s ambitious 2030 climate target,” said Clayton Munnings, Executive Director of Clean & Prosperous California. “By committing to extending the program beyond 2030, California sends an economic signal to the carbon market that our state remains wide open for businesses that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Legislative extension also paves the way for linkage with Washington, the completion of which will show a unified front of subnational climate action in the face of federal climate inaction.”

Read the full press release: https://cleanandprosperous.org/2025/09/17/press-release-ca-cap-and-invest-reauthorization-a-significant-milestone-toward-linkage-of-california-quebec-and-washington-carbon-markets/.