Title
Approval of a Resolution Expressing City Council Opposition to Washington State Ballot Initiative No. 2117 Concerning Carbon Credit Tax Trading
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Accept testimony from everyone who wishes to speak for or against the Initiative Measure No. 2117.
Motion if Council wishes to oppose the Initiative: Move to Adopt the Resolution Expressing City Council Opposition to Initiative Measure No. 2117 concerning Carbon Credit Tax Trading
No action is needed if the City Council does not wish to adopt the Resolution.
Report
Issue:
Whether to oppose Initiative No. 2117 to Washington's voters, which would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, and repeal legislation establishing a cap and invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Staff Contact:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs, Office of Community Vitality, 360.753.8249
Presenter(s):
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs
Background and Analysis:
The City Council requested this matter be placed on a City Council agenda so that the Council could conduct a public hearing and hear from community members in support of or opposed to Initiative No. 2117.
In accord with RCW 42.17A.555, any action taken by the Council to support or oppose a ballot proposition must be done at a properly noticed open public meeting with an opportunity for anyone to comment for or against the ballot measure prior to City Council action.
Climate Commitment Act
In 2021, the Washington State Legislature adopted Senate Bill 5126, known as the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA is a cap-and-invest program designed to help Washington meet its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 95% by 2050. The CCA sets an annual greenhouse gas emissions limit for major emitters and lowers that limit over time to help achieve statewide emissions reduction goals. Under the CCA, the larges...
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