Climate Commitment Act
History
History
The Climate Commitment Act stands as a remarkable example of effective state-level policy aimed at mitigating climate pollution and fostering a fair and sustainable future.
Back in 2021, Washington State took a pioneering step by passing the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), a groundbreaking cap-and-invest legislation. This forward-looking law places a gradual limit on climate-warming emissions and allocates resources to implement solutions that promote equity, prosperity, and resilience across the state. Working hand-in-hand with other robust state policies, the CCA is projected to achieve an impressive 95% reduction in emissions by 2050. Moreover, it fosters stronger consultations with tribal nations, enhances air quality and environmental justice, bolsters climate-focused initiatives, and bolsters the state’s economy.
The journey toward passing the CCA holds valuable insights that can be adapted by other states seeking to address climate change. Prior to this achievement, numerous attempts to implement carbon pricing had faltered over the course of more than a decade. However, the CCA triumphed with the collective backing of a diverse coalition of stakeholders, representing a broad spectrum of interests within the state. This inclusive collaboration ensured that the law not only met science-based emission reduction targets but also brought about positive co-benefits for Washington’s environment, businesses, and marginalized communities.
Bipartisan Roots & State Leadership
Cap-and-Trade was first deployed by the George H. W. Bush administration to successfully – and efficiently – combat acid rain.
Could it work as well on the climate crisis?
California was the first state to put Cap-and-Trade to work on greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction. Results there show targets achieved ahead of schedule, with a healthy economy.
Now, just as we in Washington state followed California’s lead but improved upon their program, we anticipate other states will follow our lead. Already, the state of New York is beginning the process of implementing a similar Cap-and-Invest system. California is considering improvements to their system by referencing Washington’s CCA.
Honored to stand w/ @JerryBrownGov he signs extension of cap & trade where we launched the program 11 years ago - a great bipartisan bill. pic.twitter.com/Xf91TbZXjX
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) July 25, 2017
Press Release: 2ND CCA AUCTION RAISES REVENUE FOR STATEWIDE CLIMATE PROGRAMS
The landmark Cap-and-Invest Climate Commitment Act (CCA), which officially became law in January of this year, held its second quarterly “emissions allowance auction,” on May 31 with revenues revealed today for climate-resilience programs, and...
The road ahead for clean trucks
Trucks and buses represent just 10% of vehicles on Washington’s roads and highways, but are responsible for 30% of the state’s on-road GHG emissions, and disproportionately contribute to low air quality in low-income and historically...
New policies to power a cleaner WA
The Washington state legislature wrapped up its 2023 session with an historic $2 billion in clean energy investments. This includes unprecedented support for accelerating medium- and heavy-duty vehicle decarbonization, investments in dairy...
A $2B boost for WA’s clean energy economy
Washington state leads the nation with the best state economy, per WalletHub. And we’re near the top of the list in per capita Gross Domestic Product by state: Our economy is built on innovation, from aviation and agriculture to ecommerce and high...
Seattle Times: WA budgets $2B to cut greenhouse gas emissions; here’s where money will go
Washington lawmakers budgeted about $2 billion to boost the adoption of electric bikes, cars and heat pumps, build solar power projects, turn cow poop into energy, and fund other efforts related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The spending...
State Budget is Largest Investment Ever for Climate Action
Two years ago to this day, the Washington State Senate concurred with the House of Representatives to approve the Climate Commitment Act, our cap-and-invest program. Now our state is reaping the benefits of this policy with the approval over the...
2023-2025 Washington State Biennial Budgets: Investments in Decarbonization
Decarbonization Elements of Transportation Budget as passed by the Legislature The Transportation Budget allocates $968 million of Climate Commitment Act Funds to clean energy and decarbonization initiatives and programs, including: $120 Million...
Press Release: LANDMARK CLIMATE INVESTMENTS PASS LEGISLATURE
(Seattle, WA) April 24, 2023 On the heels of Earth Day, the Washington state legislature wrapped up its 2023 session Sunday night with historic investments in clean energy projects, including over $2 billion of funds from the Climate Commitment...
How will CCA funds be invested in Natural Resources?
As Washington state works to build a cleaner, greener economy, Mother Nature is not only an interested stakeholder, but also a powerful ally. Healthy forests and abundant fish contribute to our economic prosperity and our quality of life....
How will CCA funds be invested in Clean Buildings?
Existing non-residential buildings are among Washington state’s primary consumers of energy, and together, produce over a quarter of our state’s total carbon pollution. Natural gas heats 80% of the Pacific Northwest’s commercial buildings (by...
How will CCA funds be invested in Clean Energy?
During these last two weeks of Session in Olympia, the Washington State House and Senate will finalize bills and make biennial budget decisions that will impact our progress toward a clean economy for years to come. Revenues from Climate...
How will CCA funds be invested?
With just 17 days left in Session, negotiators from the Washington State House and Senate are working to align their biennial budgets – and we’re working to help them prioritize investments that will quickly and cost-effectively return clean...
Dogs love electric cars
They say readership goes up if you feature dogs. We, of course, would never stoop to such manipulative gimmicks to drive newsletter clicks. We’re a data-driven, research-obsessed organization, after all. So… we want to share news about a research...
Smart Climate Investment Series
Ferry system Download | Full ScreenFood Processing Download | Full Screen[pdf-embedder...
Ferry system electrification is a smart climate investment
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest report about climate change, warning that “Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health. There is a rapidly closing window of opportunity...
Tracking bills in Olympia
As proposed legislation reaches the home stretch in Olympia, there are several bills we’re tracking that could be significant in our state’s effort to build a clean economy: SB 5447 Promoting the alternative jet fuel industry in Washington “The...
Upgrades to food processing are a smart climate investment
Once upon a time, when people spoke about a “green economy” they were speaking about agriculture. Now we think about renewable energy. But today’s green economy is as much about agriculture and food production as it is about solar panels and EVs. ...
Spring forever forward?
Though we’ll have an hour less time this weekend, we recommend that reading “Time Well Spent: An Economic Analysis of Daylight Saving Time Legislation” is indeed time well spent. Authored by two University of Washington professors, it’s 15 years...
KCPQ-FOX: WA greenhouse gas allowance auction raises estimated $300M
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state’s first auction of greenhouse-gas pollution allowances has generated an estimated $300 million businesses, people and lawmakers see the cost of emitting greenhouse gases. Read more...Clean & Prosperous...
Auction results are in
Based on the Climate Commitment Act’s Auction Summary Report, $300 million dollars have been raised through capping emissions on large greenhouse gas emitters in Washington state. These funds are now available to invest in cleaner, more resilient...