|
In
September 2007, Governor Schwarzennegger signed
Assembly Bill 32: The Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006.
California, the 12th largest emitter of carbon in
the world, calls this a first-in-the-world comprehensive
program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real,
quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases.
Using
market-based incentives, the goal is to reduce carbon emissions
to 1990 levels by the year 2020, or a 25 percent reduction. By
2050, emissions are to be reduced to 80 percent below 1990
levels.
AB 32
requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop
regulations and market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Mandatory caps will begin in 2012 for significant
sources. CARB will begin to measure the greenhouse gas
emissions of the industries it determines as significant sources
of greenhouse gas emissions.
Specifically, AB32 requires CARB to:
Establish a
statewide greenhouse gas emissions cap for 2020, based on 1990
emissions by January 1, 2008
Adopt mandatory
reporting rules for significant sources of greenhouse gases by
January 1, 2009;
Adopt a plan by
January 1, 2009 indicating how emission reductions will be
achieved from significant greenhouse gas sources via
regulations, market mechanisms and other actions;
Adopt regulations
by January 1, 2011 to achieve the maximum technologically
feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas,
including provisions for using both market mechanisms and
alternative compliance mechanisms;
Convene an
Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and an Economic and
Technology Advancement Advisory Committee to advise CARB;
Ensure public
notice and opportunity for comment for all CARB actions; and
Prior to imposing
any mandates or authorizing market mechanisms, CARB must
evaluate several factors, including but not limited to impacts
on California's economy, the environment and public health;
equity between regulated entities; electricity reliability;
conformance with other environmental laws and ensure that the
rules do not disproportionately impact low-income communities.
|
