To highlight state's leadership in combating climate change, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will travel to Copenhagen next week to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The governor will discuss how the state has led the nation in enacting policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, advance clean energy and fuels and create green jobs.
"In California, we've shown that it is not only possible to fight climate change at the subnational level, we've proven that a subnational government has the power to drive change across the nation and the world," said Schwarzenegger.
"As our state has become a world leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting clean energy and creating green jobs, I have seen the power firsthand that cities, states and other regional governments carry in influencing and creating the new ideas that spur clean innovation.
" And, we are seeing our nation, other parts of the world and the private-sector respond to this power. We are beginning one of history's great transitions - the transition to a new green economic foundation for the 21st century and beyond - and I hope all of the leaders and delegates at Copenhagen will join us in this brighter, more sustainable future."
Next Tuesday, when the conference focuses on subnational government action, the governor will urge the international community, especially regional and local leaders from around the world, to commit to fighting climate change.
The state has led the nation in enacting some of the most ambitious policies to protect the environment and fight climate change, according to the governor's office..
Some of the state's achievements include:
-- Enacting Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, to establish a first-in-the-world economy-wide, comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. The Act calls for a reduction of emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The governor has also called for an additional 80 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2050.
-- Signing an executive order in 2007 to create the world's first Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), to expand the market for alternative fuels in California by requiring fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels sold in the state. LCFS requires a 10 percent reduction of the carbon intensity from transportation fuels by 2020, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 13 million metric tons a year, equivalent to taking three million cars off the road.
-- Establishing California's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by executive order to provide clear and permanent direction for the creation, delivery and servicing of the state's renewable energy projects. The California Air Resources Board will adopt regulations to increase the state's RPS to 33 percent by 2020.
Joe Segura, a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, has covered Gotham City, er Long Beach, for 34 years. During his very, very long -- endless -- tenure, he's covered almost every beat, and he was the main writer for BeachWeek, which focused on life and lifestyles of the shoreline communities from downtown Long Beach to the Huntington Beach pier.
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