Senator Fran Pavley has amended SB 32, a bill that drives California’s long story of climate leadership another step forward. In addition, Senator Pavley congratulated Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia on amending his AB 197, a critical measure to provide oversight, transparency and equity to the state’s climate programs.

These bills are key components of a comprehensive legislative package that, together with the work of the Brown Administration, represent a new chapter in the state’s leadership in addressing global warming. They bridge the state’s need for a predictable and certain climate policy with the imperative to ground California’s environmental stewardship in principles of social justice and economic equality.

SB 32 is designed to provide California with the certainty and predictability it needs to continue its leadership in the clean energy economy. It extends the state’s climate pollution reduction targets to 2030, and requires a 40 percent reduction below 1990 levels. By providing a clear market signal to businesses and investors, SB 32 promises the creation of a host of good-paying jobs building the technologies and resources necessary to prevent the worst consequences of climate change.

The bill builds off existing state policy, which calls for an economy-wide reduction in climate pollution from carbon dioxide and other more potent climate pollutants, including methane. The legislation codifies standards established by Governor Brown in Executive Order B-30-15. Senate Bill 32 has enjoyed widespread backing from local governments, low-income community organizations, businesses, environmentalists, labor, faith-based groups, former legislative leaders, editorial boards across the state, and 27 legislative co-authors.

Senator Pavley urged her colleagues to pass SB 32 now. “It is critically important, sooner rather than later, to extend our climate targets and put them into statute.” She noted the importance of providing a clear signal to the market, and her commitment to work with the Brown Administration to strengthen and continue California’s landmark climate policies. “Businesses have told me time and again that they need market certainty and predictability in order to plan and innovate and succeed. That’s what SB 32 brings–certainty and predictability that California will build the clean energy economy that finally moves us away from our dependence on dangerous resources like fossil fuels.”

The accountability provisions in Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s AB 197 provide for legislative oversight to ensure GHG emissions reductions are achieved equitably, fairly and economically. “After meeting with more than 20 Assembly Members last year on SB 32, one point I heard over and over was the importance of accountability and oversight over California’s climate programs,” Pavley said. “I’m excited that Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia is taking the lead on this issue, and I stand ready to work with him this year.”

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, a new co-author on SB 32, stressed the importance of setting long-term targets, and fulfilling California’s commitments to a broader national and international discussion. “Senator Pavley and I are working together to identify how best we can strengthen climate policies in California in a manner that improves the quality of life for all residents of our state. Our commitments in Paris and our own policies in California must place those disadvantaged by pollution at the center. I look forward to working with Senator Pavley on crafting proactive policies that when implemented ensure that people of color and disadvantaged communities are prioritized in the state’s future climate policies.”

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and Senator Pavley attended the UN Climate Summit as part of California’s delegation, along with Governor Brown, Senate President Pro Tem. Kevin de León, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Speaker Emeritus Toni Atkins, Senator Ricardo Lara, Senator Bob Wieckowski, Assemblymember Richard Bloom, California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols and Cal-EPA Secretary Matt Rodriguez.

In addition to SB 32 and AB 197, the Legislature is hearing debate this year on a host of related bills, all part of a broader discussion about the state’s approach to climate change. Those bills include:

SB 1464 (De Leon) – GGRF Accountability and Metrics
AB 1550 (Gomez) – Climate Equity
AB 2722 (Burke) – Transformative Climate Communities
AB 2139 (Williams) – Ocean Acidification
AB 1965 (Cooper) – Clean Vehicles
AB 2222 (Holden) – Transit Pass Program
AB 2783 (E. Garcia/Eggman/C. Garcia/Gomez/Steinorth) – Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities
AB 33 (Quirk) – Energy Storage
AB 2868 (Gatto) – Energy Storage
SB 886 (Pavley) – Energy Storage
SB 1383 (Lara) – Super Pollutants