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California Preliminary Draft Cap-and-Trade Climate Regulation Praised
November 24, 2009Environmental Defense Fund praised the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its preliminary draft regulation (PDR) to reduce global warming pollution in the state. The PDR outlines key concepts the agency is considering as it designs a comprehensive cap-and-trade program. California's groundbreaking clean energy law, The Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), requires cutting global warming pollution 15 percent by 2020. The CARB board approved a plan last December calling for a cap-and-trade program that covers 85 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in California by 2020. "On the eve of the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen next month, California's 'leadership by example' is an important sign that meaningful action is occurring at the sub-national level in the United States and around the world," said Derek Walker, director of the California Climate Initiative at Environmental Defense Fund, which co-sponsored AB 32. "California is taking another important step on the path to a clean energy future that will create economic opportunities and environmental benefits for all Californians." Cap-and-trade is a proven, effective mechanism for cutting pollution quickly and at the lowest cost, a particularly important consideration given the economic downturn. Full release.