Assemblymember Garcia Legislation Advances Climate Change Guidelines

(Sacramento) – Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D- Bell Gardens) and co-authors, Assemblymembers Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) and Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) introduced legislation to confirm and enhance California’s authority to meet the 2030 climate change target established last year by SB 32 and AB 197.

“California has made tremendous progress in the last ten years reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a clean energy economy. However, as we look toward the deeper emission reductions and investments needed to meet our 2030 targets; we need to assure that our success is shared equitably with all Californians,” said Assemblymember Garcia, Chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

Here’s more in this Assembly Access video.

Here is a look at the AB 379:

AB 378, as introduced, Cristina Garcia. California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006: regulations.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The act authorizes the state board to include the use of market-based compliance mechanisms. The act requires the state board to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030.

The act requires the state board, when adopting rules and regulations to achieve greenhouse gas emissions reductions beyond the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit and to protect the state’s most impacted and disadvantaged communities, to follow specified requirements, consider the social costs of the emissions of greenhouse gases, and prioritize specified emission reduction rules and regulations.

This bill would additionally require the state board to consider and account for the social costs of the emissions and greenhouse gases when adopting those rules and regulations. The bill would authorize the state board to adopt or subsequently revise new regulations that establish a market-based compliance mechanism, applicable from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2030, to complement direct emissions reduction measures in ensuring that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030.

This bill would require the state board, in ensuring that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030, to adopt the most effective and equitable mix of emissions reduction measures and ensure that emissions reduction measures collectively and individually support achieving air quality and other environmental and public health goals.

For text of the bill, click here.