The Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee (IEMAC) is set to convene on Thursday, May 1, 2:30-4:00 p.m. PST. The meeting will take place at the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) headquarters, located at 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, as well as a number of other physical locations. For those unable to attend in person, remote participation will be available via Zoom.
Two pivotal topics on the agenda could significantly influence California’s cap-and-trade program and broader climate policy.
- Strengthening Transparency: Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures
A key agenda item is the review of IEMAC’s conflict-of-interest disclosure policies. Given the committee’s role in providing impartial analysis of California’s emissions trading system, maintaining public trust is paramount. Chair Meredith Fowlie, Co-Chair Danny Cullenward, and Salwa Bojack, Senior Staff Counsel at CalEPA, will lead this discussion. They aim to ensure that the committee’s operations remain transparent and free from potential biases, reinforcing the integrity of its recommendations.
- Navigating Federal Climate Actions: Implications for California’s Carbon Market
Another significant topic is the examination of recent federal initiatives that may impact California’s carbon market. Cara Horowitz, Executive Director of the Emmett Institute at UCLA School of Law, will provide insights into how federal policies, such as new EPA regulations or proposed national carbon pricing mechanisms, could interact with California’s existing cap-and-trade system. This discussion is crucial for understanding potential synergies or conflicts between state and federal climate strategies.
These discussions come at a critical juncture as California strives to meet its ambitious climate goals while ensuring the robustness and fairness of its carbon market. The outcomes of this meeting could have lasting implications for the state’s environmental and economic landscape.
For more details on the meeting, see the agenda and meeting materials.