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Washington, California and Québec continue to pursue a linked carbon market. We issued a joint statement in September expressing our intent to begin linkage agreement discussions. Based on work underway in California and Québec to update their cap-and-trade regulations, we believe an agreement is likely to be finalized in 2026 and that we could begin operating as part of a linked market in 2026 or 2027.
Washington continues to take the steps needed to operate a linked market, including making regulatory changes so our market is compatible with the California-Québec market, completing two Environmental Justice Assessments, and conducting a final linkage criteria assessment. California and Québec will have to take additional steps too.
As we continue this work, we'll seek input from Tribes, the Environmental Justice Council, community groups, market participants, and other parties. And we'll evaluate the potential impacts to ensure linkage would benefit Washington communities, economy, and climate goals. We’re especially interested in understanding how a linkage agreement could impact Tribal communities, communities of color, low-income communities, and others who face multiple environmental harms or health impacts, as well as ideas for mitigating harms and increasing benefits to them.
We'll continue to keep you informed on the projected timing for linkage as each jurisdiction takes the steps needed to operate a joint market. Watch for quarterly updates on progress and status of changes for each jurisdiction.
Comment on linkage agreement by March 31
In November 2024, we announced an opportunity to comment on the Cap-and-Invest linkage agreement. We’re extending the comment deadline from to January 31, 2025 to March 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. PT.
What is a linkage agreement?
A linkage agreement is a non-binding agreement that sets expectations for information sharing, cooperation, and accounting. It’s one of several steps necessary to link. The current linkage agreement between California and Québec is our starting point for developing an agreement that includes Washington.
Your continued input will inform our work on the linkage agreement, linkage rulemaking, criteria analysis, and Environmental Justice Assessments.
Public meetings
We’re hosting public meetings on Feb. 27 and March 5 to share background information about the linkage agreement, answer questions, and hear from you. Register below.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a meeting, please reach out to the contact below. We appreciate your interest and help in sharing information with others.
Learn more
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