The Climate Commitment Act

In the 2021 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature passed the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), that established a cap-and-invest program, designed to reduce greenhouse gas pollution through an economy-wide approach. The CCA is the culmination of more than a decade of advocacy, coalition building, and learning lessons from other regions. This law includes requirements to address air pollution and contaminants, prioritize investments in Tribal Nations and in overburdened communities from the revenue of the program, and integrate leadership from Tribal Nations and overburdened communities into the oversight and management of the program. With these elements of the law together, it is the most comprehensive carbon pricing program in the nation.

The Department of Ecology has begun developing the rules for how the program will be implemented, including the details around how the market works with allowances and auctions, evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions the capping of greenhouse gas emissions, and the carbon offset projects structure as a component for how emitters can meet compliance standards. Funds generated from the auction of emissions allowance will be invested in clean energy, clean transportation, and climate resiliency projects that promote climate justice.

The panel will discuss the rulemaking processes and opportunities for public input, environmental justice and equity considerations included in the legislation, opportunities and implications of the legislation for tribal nations, and funding of natural climate solutions.