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California adopts GHG emission legislation

4 October 2006

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the state by 25% by 2020.

Assembly Bill (AB) 32 requires the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop regulations and market mechanisms that will ultimately reduce California’s GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, an estimated 25% reduction. Mandatory caps will begin in 2012 for significant sources and ratchet down to meet the 2020 goals.

In the interim, the ARB will begin to measure the greenhouse gas emissions of the industries it determines as significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Specifically, AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires ARB to:

Because of its massive economy, California is the 12th largest emitter of carbon in the world.

Source: California Governor (press release | ARB climate change page)