Fran Pavley

[Sen. Pavley] – Asserting California’s long-term commitment to a clean-energy future, the Assembly on Monday voted to establish in law a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

In approving SB 32 by Sen. Fran Pavley, the Assembly acted to codify the target spelled out in Gov. Jerry Brown’s Executive Order B-30-15. Establishing that target in statute will remove any uncertainty over the state’s authority to extend its climate policies beyond the 2020 emissions-reduction target set by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, or AB 32.

“Today’s action sends an unmistakable signal to investors of California’s commitment to clean energy and clean air,” said Senator Pavley, the author of SB 32. “This will trigger more investment and more jobs in our thriving clean-energy sector and solidify California’s leadership in demonstrating to the world that we can combat climate change while also spurring economic growth.”

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said the state’s climate policies “are proof that California can be progressive and prosperous … We keep making sure the air gets cleaner and we ensure that economic and environmental benefits reach all Californians.”

Pavley praised the Assembly and Speaker Rendon for asserting leadership that will quell any public uncertainty about the state’s commitment to clean energy beyond 2020.

SB 32 was approved on a bipartisan, 47-29 vote. It now returns to the Senate for final approval.

SB 32 is legally joined with a separate measure, AB 197 by Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, which establishes new accountability, transparency and equity standards that will guide the process for achieving those reductions.

The two bills are linked so that neither can take effect unless the other is also enacted. Each measure will now return to the other legislative branch for final consideration.

AB 197 was approved by the Senate on Monday and now awaits final action in the Assembly. It directs the California Air Resources Board to prioritize regulations to protect disadvantaged communities by focusing on reducing direct emissions at stationary and mobile sources. It also adds a definition for the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions for the board to include in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of measures developed to achieve reductions.

In addition, AB 197 adds several accountability and transparency provisions to guarantee greater public oversight of state climate programs. Among them are the creation of a Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Policies to conduct an ongoing review of policies, and the designation of a senator and Assembly member to serve as non-voting, ex officio members of the Air Board.

SB 32 requires the Air Resources Board to develop technologically feasible and cost-effective regulations to achieve the targeted reductions.

The target is aligned with scientifically established levels needed in the United States to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius – the objective of a global commitment agreed to by nearly 2000 nations at December’s UN climate agreement reached in Paris.