This week, while nearly 200 international negotiators hammer out a climate treaty the U.S. might actually sign, California is moving forward with enacting a plan to fight both global warming emissions and impacts of the recession on California's economy. California is on track in implementing its Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), groundbreaking legislation that is the first ever statewide limit on global warming pollution, designed to reduce California's emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.  Not only will other states be watching, but the world will be watching to see the U.S. take initial action on fighting global warming.

On Thursday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on the Proposed Scoping Plan to implement AB 32. Once adopted, this Scoping Plan will be the blueprint for the comprehensive, binding statewide plan to curb global warming; no other state has done the same.  There is certainly no silver bullet to fighting global warming, and California will make history by putting in place policies for across the board emission cuts in all sectors and industries in the state.

This vote is historic and timely for millions of Californians and the country, especially during this recession when we need to build jobs and economic security. Thursday's vote means our state is closer to implementing legislation not only to curb and reduce global warming emissions, but also spur California's green energy economy at a time we need it most.

This is a critical opportunity to invest in long-term, sustainable solutions to not only reduce global warming emissions, but also recharge our economy. According to a recent University of California report, implementing the plan's policies to increase the use of energy efficient technologies will add more than 400,000 jobs and millions of dollars to the state's economy - and our pocketbooks - through lower energy bills.

There is much to be done to meet California's aggressive global warming emission reduction goals. If we are to fight global warming, it must be done across the board, and California is leading the way. More hard work is yet to come to carry out the plan, but California is on track. With CARB's scheduled adoption of the scoping plan on Thursday, California will prove we can fight global warming and recharge our economy at the same time.