California’s legislature approved a bill (SB 32) in August,
2016 that extends the climate targets from reducing greenhouse-gas emissions
from 1990 levels by 2020 (the former target) to just 40 percent of 1990 levels
by 2030.[1]
A second law, which includes increased legislative oversight of California
regulators and targets refineries in poor areas, passed as well. Diane Regas of
the Environmental Defense Fund pointed to California’s climate leadership. “As major
economies work under the Paris Agreement to strengthen their plans to cut
pollution and boost clean energy, California, once again, is setting a new
standard for climate leadership worldwide.”[2]
At first glance, it would seem that the legislature had freed itself from big
business to pass the bills, but the sector itself was split. I submit the anticipation
of a refreshed “cap and trade” program as an alternative (or mitigating factor)
to stricter regulations played a role. Simply put, using the market mechanism in
government regulation makes the stricter targets more palatable to market-based
enterprises.
The full essay is at "California on Greenhouse Gases."
1. Chris Megerian, “’A Real Commitment Backed Up by Real Power’: Gov. Jerry Brown
to Sign Sweeping New Climate legislation,” Los
Angeles Times, August 25, 2016.