The State Legislature paves way for California’s continued leadership in responsible environmental policy
(SACRAMENTO)– Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, and Senator Fran Pavley held a press conference to discuss the importance AB 197 and SB 32 two of California’s climate change policies. These two bills are critical to the future of California’s economic growth and clean air, won approval in both houses of the California State Legislature on Wednesday. Assembly Bill 197 (E. Garcia) requires the Air Resources Board to share already collected data on air quality and allows the legislature to play a greater role in advancing climate policies. Also, Senate Bill 32 (Pavley) will help keep California a climate leader by increasing greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
“This is a great win for California, as AB 197 and SB 32 are vital pieces of legislation that will continue our state’s legacy of prioritizing renewable energy resources and limiting carbon emissions,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella.
“Both policies are stepping stones to drastically reducing the burdens on lower-income communities and communities of color caused by pollution and unsustainable energy resources, while also supporting incredible economic growth and creating jobs.”
AB 197 directs the California Air Resources Board to prioritize regulations to protect disadvantaged communities by focusing on reducing direct emissions at stationary and mobile sources. It also adds a definition for the social costs of greenhouse gas emissions for the board to include in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of measures developed to achieve reductions. In addition, AB 197 adds several accountability and transparency provisions to guarantee greater public oversight of state climate programs. Among the accountability measures are the creation of a Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Policies to conduct an ongoing review of policies, and the designation of a Senator and Assemblymember to serve as non-voting, ex officio members of the Air Board.
SB 32 requires the Air Resources Board to develop technologically feasible and cost-effective regulations to achieve the targeted reductions.
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Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) serves as the as the Chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy and represents the 56th District, which comprises the cities and communities of Blythe, Brawley, Bermuda Dunes, Calexico, Calipatria, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, Indio, Mecca, Oasis, North Shore, Salton Sea, Thermal, Thousand Palms, and Westmorland.
