USA, California
California legislators have
passed the first bill in the United States to cap man-made greenhouse
gas emissions, an action state leaders hope will be copied across the
country, reports Reuters. The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 puts
California at the forefront of the fight against climate change along
with the European Union, and increases pressure on Washington to impose
mandatory caps rather than the voluntary measures favored by President
George W. Bush.
The bill cleared its last legislative hurdle in the State Assembly
in a 46-31 vote, with opposition from Schwarzenegger's own Republican
Party. The Senate voted to pass it 23-14 late on Wednesday. Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger, frustrated by lack of action from fellow Republican
Bush, teamed up with the state's Democratic majority on the landmark
bill. Schwarzenegger plans to sign it next month.
California aims to reduce its emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, a cut
of around 25 percent. The biggest sources of heat-trapping gases, such
as power plants and cement makers, will be required to report their
emissions. Assembly Speaker and co-sponsor Fabian Nunez appealed to
California's traditional leadership on the environment and asked the
legislature to take "an opportunity to be bold."
Republicans in opposition insisted the bill was "not fully cooked" and
echoed concerns in the business community that it would drive away
companies to less regulated places like China. Studies elsewhere that
have shown green technology can stimulate growth, and major
corporations and investment groups have highlighted the potential costs
of global warming. "We've reached a tipping point in the fight against
global warming," said Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural
Resources Defense Council, who added "The whole world has been watching
to see whether California passes this bill, and now the world will
watch as California takes the lead in developing a clean energy market."
Editor’s note – Natural gas vehicles are proven performers in the
reduction of greenhouse gases, with 30% reductions possible using
‘fossil’ natural gas, while using renewable biomethane can effectively
produce an almost greenhouse neutral outcome.
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