California proposes major emissions plan

Science News

Jun 26, 2008, 19:58 GMT

Los Angeles - California on Thursday announced plans to introduce the tightest greenhouse-gas emissions policy in the United States, proposing more renewable energy, strict curbs on polluting industries and a carbon trading system. The proposal by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) would slash emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. It represents the first comprehensive effort to combat global warming by any US state and could serve as a blueprint for the rest of the country. The 75-page initiative would take two years to get finalized before being gradually introduced between the years 2010 and 2012. The plan envisages the largest cap and trade system in the US, under which companies are allocated pollution allowances that they can sell or buy on an open market depending on their emissions levels. Utilities will also be required to generate at least one third of their energy from renewable fuels. A high-speed rail network would reduce the need for air travel while cities will become more walkable and commutes shorter. Cars will pollute less and homeowners will receive incentives to put solar panels on their roofs and install solar water heaters. Until details of the proposal are fleshed out there are no cost estimates available. But Mary Nichols, chairman of CARB, said the overall effect would be positive to the state's 1.6-trillion dollar economy, by reducing breathing ailments through better air, lowering fuel costs and creating new green technology businesses. The initial goal of the plan is to reduce carbon emissions by 437 metric tons, or 10 per cent, by 2020, bringing the emissions back down to the 1990 level. Some 80 per cent of the reduction will be achieved by direct efficiency measures, while the other 20 per cent would be achieved through the cap and trade program. The first industries to be regulated under the system will be electrical utilities and oil and gas refiners. They would initially receive pollution credits that would be reduced over time, said Nichols. The plan was praised by environmental groups, businesses and representatives of utilities, most of which have been calling for something similar to be put in place at a national level. The US Senate debated the idea of a federal cap-and-trade programme for the first time earlier this month, but the legislation was withdrawn within days amid strong Republican opposition. Shelly Sullivan, executive director of the AB-32 Implementation Group, an alliance of the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Manufacturers and Technology Association praised the state's plan as 'balanced and cost-effective.' 'We're encouraged that this draft acknowledges the effectiveness of market systems like cap-and-trade to deliver greenhouse gas emission reductions at a lower cost for California consumers' she said in a statement. David Nahai, chief executive of a major utility the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, told the Los Angeles Times that 'the plan goes a long way toward addressing the concerns we have voiced over using a cap-and-trade auction as the primary device to lower greenhouse gas emissions.'

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JulieJun 26th, 2008 - 20:31:39

all they want to do is build more housing, high density housing, and that is only going to make matters much worse because all the power, goods and services, and meat and dairy that those households use, will increase greenhouse gas emissions

you cannot decrease greenhouse gas emissions without decreasing the population and ending subsidies to the meat and dairy and poultry industries

using more fuel efficient cars and solar panels is offset by the increases in the number of people who are consuming massive amounts of products that were made with no concern for the environment whatsoever

not to mention we are running out of water in many areas

the #1 plan needs to be ending overpopulation and getting everyone up to speed on the simple reality that we have way more people than this planet can support

why doesn't california pay for free tubal ligation and vasectomy for anyone in California? We need free unlimited birth control for everyone.

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