09/27/2008 En Español |
Guest Host Secretary for Environmental Protection Linda Adams Discusses Second Anniversary of AB 32 in Governor’s Weekly Radio Address
Hi, this is Linda Adams, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, filling in for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with another California Report.
Today is the
two-year anniversary of when the Governor signed AB 32, California's landmark
global warming law.
This made
California the
first state to take comprehensive and aggressive action to reduce the greenhouse
gases we emit from our cars, our power plants and other
sources.
AB 32 mandates a
25 percent reduction by 2020 and we want an 80 percent reduction by
2050.
And soon the Air
Resources Board will release its scoping plan, which will lay out the framework
for how we expect to meet these targets.
So while the
federal government and other nations fight and bicker over climate change,
California is
taking action.
Like the Governor
says, we are leading the world and it's amazing how the world has
responded.
Since the
Governor signed AB 32, 10 states here in America
have passed similar laws.
Another 20 are
headed in that direction.
We have formed
partnerships with Western states, Northeastern states, Canadian provinces and
European nations.
Last week the
Northeastern States started their own cap and trade
program.
Earlier this week
the Western Climate Initiative, which we began here in California, released its
cap and trade plan, which will be the first solid step, toward stopping the
growth of our region's carbon footprint.
And that is just
the start.
Right now,
Governor Schwarzenegger and his staff are making final plans for a two-day
Governors Global Climate Summit in November.
California will host this summit with officials
from around the world, from provincial governments in China and India, from European nations and from
Australia,
Mexico and Canada.
The goal is to
form a broad international alliance, so when the United Nations begins crafting
the next Kyoto
agreement in December, they'll have the results and commitments from our summit
as a framework.
Of course, there
are always the naysayers, who think we should slow down, who think fighting
global warming will be too expensive.
But the Governor
believes there is far more economic opportunity in this endeavor, than there is
economic risk.
The Air Resources
Board just completed a study showing our law will create 100,000 new jobs and
boost the economy by $27 billion.
So California will not slow
down.
Like the Governor
says, we're not waiting for anyone, including the federal
government.
California's leading, just as you would
expect.
On behalf of
Governor Schwarzenegger, this is Linda Adams.
Thank you for
listening.
