California Air Board Speeds Up Emission Cuts

California Air Board Speeds Up Emission Cuts



2007 September -   As part of California 
’s effort to curb gases responsible for global warming, the state Air 
Resources Board, ARB, has proposed to nearly triple the set of early 
measures to help meet the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas 
emissions roughly 25 percent by 2020 as required by the Global Warming 
Solutions Act. 
The Board is introducing new proposals to reduce greenhouse gases from the 
trucking industry, greener ports, cement and semiconductor industries, and 
consumer products. 
"Today’s announcement sets the stage for another step forward in achieving 
our goal to return the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 
2020," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. 
"Every single action we take - government, businesses, municipalities and 
individuals alike - makes a difference toward ultimately cooling our 
planet," she said. "California is showing the country and the world that 
we can and will help reverse the ominous tide of global warming." 
One of the eight new measures would ban the use of the greenhouse gas 
sulfur hexafluoride from non-essential applications if viable alternatives 
are available. 
Another would allow docked ships to shut off their auxiliary engines by 
plugging into shoreside electrical outlets. 
These newly proposed early action measures are projected to eliminate 2.8 
million metric tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions. 
Combined with the early action measures adopted by the Board in June - a 
low carbon fuel standard, restrictions in do-it-yourself air conditioner 
repairs and methane capture from landfills - the ARB now has measures in 
the works to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 16 
million metric tons. 
The proposed early actions combined with other measures proposed by the 
larger Climate Action Team could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more 
than 36 million metric tons by 2020, roughly 21 percent of the total 
needed to meet the legally binding target of rolling back emissions to 
1990 levels. 
The Board will vote on additional proposed measures in Sacramento on 
October 25 and 26. I 
In the meantime, ARB staff will hold a workshop on the new proposed 
measure Monday in Sacramento to discuss the specifics and solicit 
additional input from stakeholders. 
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Global Warming Solutions Act on 
September. 26, 2006, establishing the world’s most comprehensive 
greenhouse gas reduction initiative. 
The law requires the ARB to implement a statewide greenhouse gas emissions 
reduction strategy. In addition, the Governor directed the members of the 
Climate Action Team to work alongside the ARB to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions from their respective jurisdictions. 

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