The Nature Conservancy Applauds California, Québec and Washington for Advancing Carbon Market Linkage

The Nature Conservancy applauds the signing of a linkage agreement among California, Québec and Washington, marking an important milestone toward creating a larger, more integrated carbon market across North America.

Climate change poses a growing threat to communities, economies and the natural systems on which we all depend. Addressing this challenge requires ambitious action at every level of government and strong collaboration across jurisdictions. The linkage agreement demonstrates continued leadership by California, Québec and Washington in advancing market-based climate policies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic resilience and innovation.

By working toward a linked carbon market, the three jurisdictions are laying the foundation for a stronger and more efficient system that can drive emissions reductions, provide greater market stability and encourage investment in areas like clean energy and nature-based solutions. Expanding cooperation among climate leaders helps create the scale needed to tackle the climate crisis while providing greater certainty for businesses and communities planning for a low-carbon future.

“The signing of this agreement represents a significant step forward for climate collaboration in North America,” said Chuck Bohnam, executive director for The Nature Conservancy in California. “Effective carbon markets are an important tool for reducing emissions at the pace and scale needed to address climate change. By working together, California, Québec and Washington are strengthening their ability to deliver durable climate progress and demonstrating how regional partnerships can support both economic prosperity and environmental stewardship.”

“This agreement marks real progress toward the regional cooperation we need to tackle climate change at scale,” said Stephanie Burkhart, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Washington. “As the work continues, every jurisdiction has to make sure the program delivers tangible benefits for communities, especially those that have long carried the heaviest environmental and health burdens. Its success depends on building a system that cuts greenhouse gases across the region and brings cleaner, healthier air to those who need it most.”

“This agreement reflects growing momentum for collaborative, market-based climate solutions,” said Jane Church, director of strategic partnerships for Nature United, the Canadian affiliate of The Nature Conservancy. “As this work continues, maintaining strong environmental integrity and ensuring benefits reach communities will be essential—and Canada can help advance both through its leadership in nature-based solutions and partnership-driven approaches.”

The Nature Conservancy recognizes the substantial work that remains before a linked market becomes operational, including the completion of regulatory and statutory processes within each jurisdiction. We encourage policymakers to continue building a program that maintains strong environmental integrity, delivers meaningful emissions reductions and supports investments that benefit communities and nature-based solutions.