California has a plan to reduce global warming pollution

Yesterday the California Air Resources Board took final action on the Scoping Plan to implement AB 32: The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The Scoping Plan lays out California's plan to reduce statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

That's right: California has a plan! And we are ready to implement! In short and colorful form, this is the plan:

            California GHG Emissions Reductions

Notice: cap-and-trade, that program you've hear so much about if you've read about climate change policy, is only 20% of the reductions under California's plan. The rest of the reductions will come from other programs, often building on policies that have already been working in California for years. Here's a little more info about how we're going to reduce:

• Cleaner Cars and Trucks; 22%.  If you want to buy a really clean and efficient car, you will soon have much more than the Prius to choose from.
• Low-Carbon Fuels; 9%. More options at the pump means less pollution coming out of your tailpipe.
• Smart Growth; 3%.  Give Californians the option to drive less, walk and bike more, and spend more time doing other things they like to do instead if sitting in traffic (note that this number gets much bigger as we head to 2050.)
• Renewable energy; 13%.  Solar, wind.  'Nuff said.
• Energy Efficiency; 15%.  Same lighting, computing, and clothes washing ability; better machines and lower electricity bills.
• Forests; 3%. More trees, less pollution.  What's not to love? 
• High GWP; 12%.  Reduce small amounts of highly potent global warming pollutants, getting more bang for the buck.  One example: trapping highly potent pollution instead of letting it escape into the atmosphere when changing out car air conditioners.
• Cap-and-Trade; 20%.  Unleash our entrepreneurial power to get those extra, innovative reductions we can't get through government programs alone.

I call that a plan. Let's do it!

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