by Jbs121708 g3 — December 24, 2008—The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved a plan to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The climate change “scoping plan” is a central requirement of AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which was signed into law in September of that year.
The plan is built on the principle that a balanced mix of strategies is the best way to cut emissions by approximately 30 percent, and grow the economy in a clean and sustainable direction.
An important component of the plan is a cap-and-trade program covering 85 percent of the state’s emissions. This program will be developed in conjunction with the Western Climate Initiative, comprised of seven states and four Canadian provinces that have committed to cap their emissions and create a regional carbon market.
Additional key recommendations of the plan include strategies to enhance and expand proven cost-saving energy efficiency programs; implementation of California’s clean cars standards; increases in the amount of clean and renewable energy used to power the state; and, implementation of a low-carbon fuel standard that will make the fuels used in the state cleaner.
The plan proposes full deployment of the California Solar Initiative, high-speed rail, water-related energy efficiency measures and a range of regulations to reduce emissions from trucks and from ships docked in California ports. There are also measures designed to safely reduce or recover a range of very potent greenhouse gases, such as refrigerants and other industrial gases.
The plan recommends targeted fees to fund the state’s long-term commitment to AB 32 administration.
