California Air Board Speeds Up Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cuts

SACRAMENTO, California, September 14, 2007 (ENS) - As part of California ’s effort to curb gases responsible for global warming, the state Air Resources Board, ARB, has proposed to nearly triple the set of early measures to help meet the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions roughly 25 percent by 2020 as required by the Global Warming Solutions Act.

The Board is introducing new proposals to reduce greenhouse gases from the trucking industry, greener ports, cement and semiconductor industries, and consumer products.

"Today’s announcement sets the stage for another step forward in achieving our goal to return the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols.

"Every single action we take - government, businesses, municipalities and individuals alike - makes a difference toward ultimately cooling our planet," she said. "California is showing the country and the world that we can and will help reverse the ominous tide of global warming."

One of the eight new measures would ban the use of the greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride from non-essential applications if viable alternatives are available.

Another would allow docked ships to shut off their auxiliary engines by plugging into shoreside electrical outlets.

These newly proposed early action measures are projected to eliminate 2.8 million metric tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Combined with the early action measures adopted by the Board in June - a low carbon fuel standard, restrictions in do-it-yourself air conditioner repairs and methane capture from landfills - the ARB now has measures in the works to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 16 million metric tons.

The proposed early actions combined with other measures proposed by the larger Climate Action Team could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 36 million metric tons by 2020, roughly 21 percent of the total needed to meet the legally binding target of rolling back emissions to 1990 levels.

The Board will vote on additional proposed measures in Sacramento on October 25 and 26. I

In the meantime, ARB staff will hold a workshop on the new proposed measure Monday in Sacramento to discuss the specifics and solicit additional input from stakeholders.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act on September. 26, 2006, establishing the world’s most comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction initiative.

The law requires the ARB to implement a statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategy. In addition, the Governor directed the members of the Climate Action Team to work alongside the ARB to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their respective jurisdictions.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.