| California Passes Climate Change Legislation | 07 September 06 |
 California made a bold move to combat climate change August 31, 2006 by passing the first bill in the United States to cap man-made greenhouse gas emissions, an action that state leaders hope will be copied across the country. The Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) was cosponsored by environmental groups Environmental Defense and the Natural Resources Defense Council.The bill cleared its last legislative hurdle in the State Assembly in a 46-31 vote, with some opposition from Schwarzenegger's own Republican Party. The California Senate voted to pass it 23-14 a day earlier. California aims to reduce its emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, a cut of approximately 25%. The biggest sources of greenhouse gases, such as power plants and cement makers, will be required to report emissions. The bill gives the California Air Resources Board, which enforces air pollution controls, the lead authority for establishing how much industry sector contribute to global warming pollution; for assigning emission targets; and for setting noncompliance penalties. The Act sets out a two-year time frame, until 2009, to establish how the system and then allows three years, until 2012, for industries to start their cutbacks. View August 30, 2006 New York Times article (DOC) View August 31, 2006 San Francisco Chronicle article View August 31, 2006 Sierra Club US Executive Director Carl Pope article View September 1, 2006 Washington Post article View September 2, 2006 ABC News article Sources: New York Times, NRDC, San Francisco Chronicle, Sierra Club |
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