April 11, 2006

GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER HOSTS CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT, ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR A MANDATORY REPORTING SYSTEM AND MARKET-BASED SYSTEM TO RESTRICT EMISSIONS

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today took the first steps to put the recommendations from the groundbreaking Climate Action Team Report into action, including supporting a system that requires large companies to report carbon emissions and a market-based system to restrict greenhouse emissions in California.

"We know we cannot reach targets to reduce greenhouse gases unless we measure our progress. So let's work together to create a mandatory reporting system for our carbon emissions," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "We know we cannot reduce emissions unless we have market-based solutions, like trading mechanisms, in addition to our regulatory solutions. So let's work together to create the world's best market-based system to limit and slash emissions."

Continuing his bold leadership on protecting California's environment, the Governor has embraced the broad framework of his Climate Action Team's strategies to achieve unprecedented emissions reduction targets, placing California at the forefront of the fight against global warming.

In June 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-3-05, which established unprecedented targets in reducing greenhouse gases. The executive order directed CalEPA to lead a multi-agency effort to meet the targets and to report on the progress toward those goals every two years.

At today's summit, the Governor speech's was followed by two panels moderated by Schwarzenegger administration officials. The first panel addressed "Regulation in a Market-Based Economy: How Do We Meet the Governor's Targets?" and the second panel was entitled "Technology Solutions to Reduce Climate Change Emissions and Improve our Economy." The Governor participated in one of the panel discussions to view presentations on potential market-based mechanisms.

The Governor has consistently shown leadership on climate change and the environment, including:

• Fighting global warming: Putting California at the forefront in the fight against global warming, the Governor made history by signing an Executive Order setting groundbreaking goals with bold greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to reduce emissions to 2000 levels in the next five years and to 1990 levels in 15 years.
• Getting the dirtiest cars and buses off our streets: The Governor invested more than $165 million to get gross polluters off our streets. This funding will reduce smog-forming oxides of nitrogen emissions by approximately 7,000 tons annually, equivalent to taking more than 700,000 cars off the road.
• Implementing new car emissions standards: Working to clean California's air, the Governor implemented regulations toughening new car standards to reduce emissions by 30 percent in the next 10 years, cutting ozone-forming pollution by five tons per day by 2020 and drastically increasing fuel efficiency.
• Promoting the clean power of the sun: To take advantage of the cleanest, most reliable energy source California has, the Governor developed the Million Solar Roofs Initiative to have 1 million solar roofs on residential and commercial buildings by 2018. The Public Utilities Commission has taken action to implementing this plan.
• Launching the Breathe Easier campaign: In March of 2005, Governor Schwarzenegger launched the Breathe Easier public awareness campaign to help educate Californians about the negative effects of vehicle pollution and encourage participation in the state's vehicle retirement program for gross polluters.
• Promoting eco-friendly behavior in the workplace: To promote energy and water efficiency and encourage the practice of eco-friendly behaviors, the Governor signed an Executive Order creating the Green Building Initiative for both public and private buildings. This initiative sets goals to reduce electricity use and create more energy-efficient structures throughout the state.
• Establishing the Sierra Nevada Conservancy: The Governor placed 25 million acres under conservation management in a region that produces 65 percent of the state's water supply and half of all timber.
• Creating the Hydrogen Highway: Governor Schwarzenegger has led the nation in innovative ways to use renewable energy, including creating the Hydrogen Highway. As part of his Hydrogen Highway plan, the Governor invested $6.5 million to support a network of more than 16 filling stations and a growing fleet of cars and buses that run on this clean fuel of the future.

View the Climate Action Report and supporting documents.