California, a leader in efforts to combat climate change, has become the first US state to implement cap-and-trade to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The system will place a price tag on carbon emissions and allow the state's industries to trade carbon credits. The system will provide financial incentives to companies in order to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. The cap-and-trade program is scheduled to start in 2013 and it aims to slash emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
