CALIFORNIA: Cal/EPA Climate Action Team Report Released

Energy, waste, and emissions are inextricably linked in their impact on our quality of life. The executive agencies of California realize this - unfortunately, implementing solutions through the partisan legislature is another matter. Still, they can't complain that they didn't have enough information to act.

In a comprehensive report to the legislature, replete with supporting addenda and appendices, the Climate Action Team of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) provides
• an evaluation of the impacts of climate change,
• recommendations for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• market-driven and implementation options to pursue
• economic and environmental impacts

Below is the entirety of Cal/EPA press release concerning the report:


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Climate Action Team Report: Governor Schwarzenegger’s
Climate Change Goals Are Achievable, Benefit the Economy
April 3, 2006

(SACRAMENTO) – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are achievable and beneficial to California’s economy, according to a report by the California Climate Action Team (CAT). The report, submitted to the Governor and Legislature today, recommends a wide range of measures to meet the Governor’s goals. Combined, the measures will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California by approximately 30% by 2020.

“Last June, Governor Schwarzenegger set ambitious greenhouse gas emission targets that made California a world leader in combating climate change,” said former California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) Secretary Alan C. Lloyd, who led the CAT. “While some said the goals were too ambitious, this report concludes the Governor’s goals can be achieved while saving money and creating jobs.”

The CAT Report recommends 46 specific strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California, including implementation of the California Solar Initiative, development of alternative fuels, forest conservation measures, and intelligent transportation systems. In addition, the report includes nine key recommendations to help ensure the Governor’s targets are met, including:

A multi-sector, market-based program which considers trading, emission credits, auction and offsets

Mandatory greenhouse gas emission reporting from the largest sources, including oil and gas extraction facilities, oil refineries, power plants, cement manufacturing plants, and solid waste landfills

Require new electricity generated for use in California to come from sources with climate change emissions equivalent to or less than new combined cycle natural gas power plants

Require all utilities, whether publicly or privately owned, to meet the state’s energy efficiency goals and Renewable Portfolio Standard

A coordinated investment strategy to develop technologies in California that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The report also includes a preliminary macroeconomic analysis of the recommended strategies. This analysis, conducted using a model developed the University of California, Berkeley, predicted a net increase of 83,000 jobs and $4 billion in income by 2020, due primarily to reduced energy costs.

In June 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-3-05, establishing the most ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets of any state or nation in the world. The Order directed Cal/EPA lead a multi-agency effort to meet the targets, and to report every two years on the progress toward meeting the targets.



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