Climate Central quotes me in a new article on the legal barriers to extending California's carbon market:
The cap-and-trade program was created by a 2006 climate law, AB32, which stated that the “market-based” system for achieving pollution cuts was “applicable” until the end of 2020. The law requires that state officials “make recommendations” to lawmakers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions after that time.
Because of a proposition passed by state voters in 2010 regarding fees and taxes, lawmaker approval of a new or extended cap-and-trade program may require a two-thirds majority.
“The legal crisis is, ‘How do we fix that problem?’” Cullenward said. “The Air Resources Board is saying, ‘Oh, we don’t need any new authority, because we’ve got it — we just won’t really tell you what it is.’ ”
Thanks to John Upton and the rest of the team at Climate Central for digging into the complex issues facing state policymakers in California.