AB 2702, as introduced, Atkins. Climate change.
The 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 state board is required to adopt a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve the maximum, technologically feasible, and cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Existing law establishes the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program, which is administered by the Office of Planning and Research, to coordinate regional and local efforts with state climate adaptation strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change, as specified. Existing law requires the California Environmental Protection Agency to update the state’s climate adaptation strategy to identify vulnerabilities to climate change.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would continue the work with local governments, state agencies, and others to meet the goals set forth in Governor Brown’s Under 2 MOU, which brings together subnational governments willing to commit to either reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases 80% to 95% below 1990 levels by 2050 or achieving a per capita annual emissions target of less than 2 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:
3(1) California has been a leader on climate change for more
4than a decade through the enactment of landmark legislation such
5as the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division
625.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety
7Code) and the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015
8(Chapter 547 of the Statutes of 2015) and through policies and
9practices that allow for Californians to be innovators and early
10adapters for new technologies like those related to renewable
11energy and clean fuels.
12(2) In May of 2015, Governor Brown, along with leaders from
1311 other
states and provinces from seven countries, entered into
14the “Under 2 MOU” committing the signatories to either reducing
15the emissions of greenhouse gases 80 to 95 percent below 1990
16levels by 2050 or achieving a per capita annual emissions target
17of less than 2 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050.
18(3) As of January of 2016, a total of 127 jurisdictions
19representing 27 countries and 6 continents have signed or endorsed
20the Under 2 MOU.
21(4) In December of 2015, 195 counties from around the globe
22adopted the Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework
23Convention on Climate Change (FCCC/CP/2015/L.9/Rev.1) at
24the United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) in Paris, France,
25signaling a commitment to limit the effects of climate change and
26further reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases.
27(5) California’s
leadership and vision on climate change helped
28open the door to the historic Paris Agreement.
29(6) The achievements made in COP21, the Under 2 MOU, and
30recent legislative efforts in California are by no means the end in
31the state’s effort to combat climate change. In California, we know
32the serious damage climate change can cause to everything from
33our supply of food and clean water to the health of the forests and
P3 1from neighborhood public safety to our national security. We need
2to continue to work together to create and implement innovative
3policies that move us forward in our efforts to address the impacts
4of climate change.
5(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that
6would continue the work with local governments, state agencies,
7and others to meet the goals set forth in Governor Brown’s Under
82 MOU, which brings together subnational governments willing
9to
commit to either reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases
1080 to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 or achieving a per
11capita annual emissions target of less than 2 metric tons of carbon
12dioxide equivalent by 2050.
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