The budget summary fleshes out some of the proposals: "California has the most comprehensive policy of any state for dealing with climate change, including programs to promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, cleaner cars and transportation fuels, energy storage, and more sustainable land use practices. This mix of balanced policies is working—the state is on track to meet the AB 32 goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels (roughly 431 million metric tons) by 2020. The state already procures around 23 percent renewable energy statewide and will achieve the target of 33 percent renewables by 2020 ahead of schedule."
"Continued and even steeper reductions in carbon pollutants are necessary to address the ongoing threat posed by climate change. The overwhelming scientific consensus is that reducing GHG emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 is necessary to avoid “dangerous” climate change—meaning some of the worst and most disruptive climate impacts. The Administration will work with the Legislature and stakeholders to develop a midterm reduction target for 2030 that is consistent with this 2050 objective for stabilizing climate change, and to develop an integrated, economy‑wide plan for meeting this target. Such a plan will include reductions in a number of key areas:
- Decarbonizing Electricity—Significantly increase the state’s share of renewable energy, while maintaining system reliability and operability.
- Short‑Lived Climate Pollutants—Significantly reduce emissions of pollutants, such as methane and black carbon, from oil production, landfills, agriculture and other sources. These pollutants have a much greater short‑term impact on the climate than carbon dioxide, and also have adverse air quality and public health impacts.
- Price on Carbon—Continue policies that put a price on carbon, reflecting the costs that GHG emissions impose on society and creating incentives for the development of cleaner technology."
