EU and California to link emissions trading schemes

The European Union has signalled its desire to link the bloc's emissions trading scheme (ETS) with a similar system in California, due to open in 2012.
EU climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard has been in California k to discuss the idea with state governor Jerry Brown and Californian Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nicholls.

The Californian scheme is set to be the second largest of its kind, after the EU's, and comes after attempts to create a national US trading scheme were rejected by the country's senate.

In December 2010, EU member states mandated the commission to starts negotiations on linking the EU's ETS with a similar system in Switzerland, but the California hook-up would be considerably bigger.

ESO: Background information: EU proposes sweeping climate change fight / EU outlines ambitious emissions goals http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-proposes-sweeping-climate-change-fight-eu-outlines-ambitious-emissions-goals/

ESO: Background information: United warns EU on emissions scheme http://www.europeansources.info/record/united-warns-eu-on-emissions-scheme/

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