New York picks WCI for carbon market platform

New York state will use the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) platform when administering its economy-wide carbon market, the latest sign that regulators in the state are looking to align program elements with systems in other North American carbon markets.

Regulators from Quebec and New York announced the agreement on Wednesday at the International Emissions Trading Association's North American Climate Summit, an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and Climate Week NYC.

After a competitive process to select a platform for its market, New York state reached a deal this week to lean on the WCI for its "market registry platform, the auction platform, and financial services", New York State Department of Environmental Conservation deputy commissioner Jon Binder said.

The WCI nonprofit provides the market infrastructure for California and Quebec's linked carbon market, as well as for a similar program in Washington state where regulators are weighing a potential linkage with the other two. Any eventual linkage with New York's program, which could see compliance obligations start in 2026, would be made easier by all the jurisdictions utilizing the same system for administering their respective programs.

The decision does not "necessarily mean these programs are linking," but New York is "happy to keep those conversations going in that regard," Binder said.

Nova Scotia, which wound down its cap-and-trade program last year, used the WCI platform for auctions without linking its programs with any other jurisdictions.

"It doesn't mean that New York will link with us," said Jean-Yves Benoit, chair of the WCI board and the director general of carbon regulation and emissions data at Quebec's environment ministry. "Although I would be very happy if we issue a joint press release next year saying that."

By Cole Martin