California, New Zealand, Québec Sign Joint Agreement on Net Zero Green House Gases

There’s a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The science shows we now have eight years to almost halve global greenhouse gas emissions.

Today the California Air Resources Board, for the state of California, signed a Joint Declaration on cooperation in the fight against climate change with the New Zealand and Québec governments. The agreement follows the California law requirement of AB 32* to consult with other nations to aid “the development of integrated and cost-effective regional, national, and international greenhouse gas reduction programs.”

The Joint Declaration accepts the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It acknowledges the common intent of the three jurisdictions to transition toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions while creating new, quality jobs in low- or zero-emission sectors and facilitating a just transition for people impacted by the shift towards a carbon neutral economy.

The Declaration also recognizes a shared understanding of the importance of carbon pricing and the reform and phase out of environmentally harmful subsidies, as efficient and critical tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the scale necessary to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C.

“Québec, California and New Zealand have a common vision of the policies and measures that should be implemented to fight climate change successfully,” said Benoit Charette, minister of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change of Québec. “Indeed, our three governments believe in carbon markets as an effective economic instrument to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In signing this declaration today, we are formalizing several years of sharing information, experiences, and best practices about our respective cap-and-trade systems and are looking forward to working even more closely together.”

“To stand a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, the science shows we now have about eight years left to almost halve global greenhouse gas emissions. That’s eight years for Governments all over the world to come together and take bold actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” said James Shaw is New Zealand Minister for Climate Change. “Whether or not we are successful will determine the quality of life for our children and grandchildren. This is the last possible moment before the window of opportunity for change closes, maybe forever. The success of COP26 will depend on leaders agreeing to elevate their collective ambition.

* Assembly Bill 32, approved by the legislature in 2006, directed CARB to consult with other national governments and other jurisdictions to identify the most effective strategies and methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage greenhouse gas control programs and to facilitate the development of integrated and cost-effective regional, national, and international greenhouse gas reduction programs. For several years, CARB has been conducting technical exchanges with New Zealand and Québec.

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