Washington State Tells Businesses to Eliminate Emissions by 2050

摘要

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is set to sign a law today mandating that a broad swath of industries essentially eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The new standards, the mostaggressive in the nation, will go into effect in 2023.The Climate Commitment Act sets a cap on greenhouse gas and creates a market where polluting industries buy and sell credits from the state for every ton of greenhouse gas they emit.Over time the state will reduce the numbers of credits it sells, forcing polluters to adapt or compete for a dwindling number of allowances. Businesses that have to buy and sell in the newmarketplace include refineries, manufacturers, and power companies. Agriculture is exempted.Environmental groups hailed the bill as a template that they hope will be copied. “Washington is doing what no other state has done,” said Pam Kiely, a U.S. climate expert at theEnvironmental Defense Fund. “Other states have set ambitious goals, but very few are translating rhetorical commitments into policy.”