Cap and Trade 101: A Climate Policy Primer

Based on extensive research and economic analysis, Sightline’s Cap and Trade 101: A Climate Policy Primer sorts out the details on what's emerging as the most popular and comprehensive policy solution to the enormous challenge of climate change: cap and trade, which promises to curb climate change and help build a more stable energy economy.

The primer includes sections on: 

• The cap, the trade: How cap and trade works
• How to evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness of a cap and trade system
• What about offsets?
• What happens to energy prices?
• Carbon tax vs. cap and trade?
• Auctioned vs. free pollution permits?
• How to build in protections for working families
• Four ways to make sure cap and trade funds go to local economies

Authors include Sightline executive director Alan Durning, researchers Eric de Place and Clark Williams-Derry, and communications strategist Anna Fahey.