A Guide to Emissions Trading under the Western Climate Initiative

This Guide presents an overview of the cap-and-trade system of carbon emissions trading created and adhered to under the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). This Guide is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 provides an overview of a cap-and-trade system of emissions permits. Chapter 2 explains the constitutional background to cap-and-trade schemes in the United States and Canada.

Chapter 3 provides an overview of the linked system and a summary of its principal features in each WCI cap-and-trade partner jurisdiction (California, Quebec, Ontario). Chapter 4 explains how emission allowances are traded under the WCI and includes the results of a survey undertaken of emissions trading market participants. Chapter 5 provides some concluding observations with respect to WCI cap-and-trade.