California Governor Announces New Pollution Reduction Goal for 2030

(SAN FRANCISCO – April 29, 2015) By executive order, California’s Governor Jerry Brown announced a new target for reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions: 40 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2030. The current target, established by the state’s historic Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, calls for the reduction of carbon pollution to 1990 levels by the year 2020. The new target would require California to continue and accelerate efforts to dramatically decrease carbon pollution while simultaneously growing the state’s green economy through investments in clean, renewable energy, new technologies, and energy efficiency. All indicators have shown that California is on track or ahead of schedule to meet the 2020 carbon reduction goal, and the latest modeling research shows that the new target of 40 percent is achievable within the 2030 timeframe.    

The executive order also specifically addresses the issue of climate adaptation, calls for updates and new assessments on the harmful impacts of climate change to the state’s infrastructure and industry, and for state agencies to factor climate change impacts into future plans and actions.    

The Governor’s announcement of the new target follows his January announcement of a bold 15-year climate change agenda, which outlined a three-part goal: a commitment to increase renewable energy generation from 33 percent to 50 percent, cut petroleum use by 50 percent, and double the efficiency of existing buildings. Since January, California Senate and Assembly leaders have introduced a sweeping array of bills to move ahead with the three-part goal and to set a new emission reduction target beyond 2020: Senate Bill 32 (Pavley) sets a goal of 80 percent reduction of carbon pollution below 1990 levels by the year 2050. These new targets from the governor and the legislature puts California at the forefront of national and global efforts to commit to carbon reduction targets ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference which will take place in Paris later on this year. 

“Governor Brown’s announcement demonstrates that California leaders can continue to set the pace for the rest of the world when it comes to tackling the urgent climate crisis and stepping up efforts to adapt to its already-harmful effects,” said Lauren Faber, West Coast Political Director for Environmental Defense Fund. “California proves every day how to not only reduce dangerous climate pollution, but grow the state’s economy and green jobs, and lift up vulnerable communities at the same time. By setting bold new targets that take us beyond 2020 and calling for more comprehensive adaptation planning, Governor Brown is sending a positive message to businesses, investors, the citizens of California, and the world that we must re-double our efforts to move to a clean-energy, low carbon future.”