A decade ago, the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce joined an open declaration acknowledging climate change as a significant risk to our economy and quality of life and acknowledged the clear and present need to take action. And now the Chamber continues this legacy through official endorsement to fight the statewide effort to repeal the Climate Commitment Act.

This endorsement continues the Chamber’s practice of entering public debates aligned with voters in our region, in this case opposing the repeal efforts. Also, member companies in endorsement discussions noted the Climate Commitment Act aligns with their business values.

Initiative 2117 would prohibit the state, and any local governments, from enacting a carbon tax-and-trade system. The initiative applies to any cap-and-trade system, regardless of whether costs are imposed on fuel consumers or suppliers. I-2117 would also fully repeal the Climate Commitment Act, which was passed by the Washington state legislature in 2021.

The Climate Commitment Act received support from diverse stakeholders including energy companies, business associations, tribal governments, and labor interests when it was passed in 2021. The Seattle Metro Chamber did not take an official position on the act in 2021 – the legislation changed many times throughout the legislative session, which made endorsement or opposition to the overall package difficult.

The legislation created a cap-and-trade program that allows businesses to purchase carbon credits at auction and sell surplus credits to other businesses. The auctions began in 2023 and estimated year-end totals for the first year are around $2.2 billion.

Funds collected provide services and infrastructure including:

  • Public transit grants and projects, including free transit for youth under 18
  • Rail and ferry electrification, shore power at ports, and incentives and infrastructure to support zero-emission commercial vehicles
  • Alternative transportation projects including Safe Routes to schools
  • Assistance to low-income households and small businesses through energy bill reductions
  • Environmental justice programs including air quality improvements in overburdened communities and decarbonization in communities of color

If I-2117 passes, the financial impact to businesses and our communities would be significant because the Climate Commitment Act provides crucial revenue for the state’s transportation system, including highways, bridges, roads, ferry, and transit infrastructure.

The Climate Commitment Act is praised by the Environmental Defense Fund as the gold standard in state climate policy, and Washington state is noted as the only state in the nation on track to reach Paris Agreement standards through the legislation.

The Seattle Metro Chamber was the first business association in the state to commit to seriously addressing climate change and we and our 2,500 member companies remain committed to protecting our natural environment and our economy in the Puget Sound region.

If you have any questions about the Climate Commitment Act or the Chamber’s endorsement, please contact larse@www.seattlechamber.com.