The California Cap-and-Trade Program began operation in 2012 with the opening of its tracking system for allocation, auction distribution, and trading of compliance instruments. Compliance obligations started in January 2013. The program covers ~75% of the state’s GHG emissions.
Operational since 2005, the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is the oldest system in force. It is a cornerstone instrument of the EU’s policy framework to combat climate change and reduce GHG emissions cost-effectively. The system covers some 10,000 stationary installations, in the energy and industry sectors, and airlines operating in the EU. This represents around 38% of the EU’s total emissions. In 2021, the EU ETS entered its fourth trading phase (2021-2030).