Stand with Us
Vote
No
on I-2117
Protect Washington's Future
Washington stands at a pivotal crossroads, and your voice holds the power to shape our economic and environmental future. Here, we provide crucial information on the significance of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA), what Initiative 2117 would take away, and why we must stand together in voting no on I-2117.
What is the Climate Commitment Act (CCA)?
The CCA is a ‘cap and invest’ program, meaning it aims to cap carbon emissions while re-investing the funds back into economic and environmental programs that further the initiative. Specifically, the CCA is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050 through a cap on total carbon emissions in Washington. Businesses emitting over 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually must buy allowances matching their greenhouse gas emissions. Notably, about 75% of the state’s emissions are covered through the program, including sectors like fuel suppliers and utilities, with certain exemptions made for agricultural and out-of-state marine fuels.
How Does the CCA Benefit Your Community?
The cap-and-invest program has already brought about $2 billion into the state budget, mostly to support climate change mitigation, community health, and construction programs. During this year’s legislative session, Washington lawmakers allocated over $800 million to buy electric school and transit buses, install more local electric vehicle charging stations, support the state’s salmon recovery and coastline restoration, buy forest land for preservation, and restore landscapes destroyed by wildfires.
Curious about the how the Climate Commitment Act benefits your local community? The Clean and Prosperous Initiative offers an interactive map displaying statewide projects that could be jeopardized if the CCA is overturned.
What Is I-2117?
Initiative 2117 will be on the Washington voter ballot this coming November. The initiative seeks to repeal the CCA, which would prevent state agencies from implementing any carbon tax credit trading and remove the jobs, economic growth and environmental funding that result from that program.
Why Voting NO on I-2117 is Crucial
I-2117 would remove safeguards for our air, water, forests, farmlands, jobs, and transportation funds. It would put transit services, ferries, and road projects in Washington at risk by creating a large shortfall in our state’s already limited transportation budget
Instead of a pollution fee paid by a few of the largest polluters, I-2117 would make communities, workers, and families cover pollution costs.