State Energy Efficiency Policy Database

In 2006, California passed the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) which caps California's greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020, and is the first state-wide program of its kind in the U.S.  The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to design and implement a plan to achieve "the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective greenhouse gas [GHG] emission reductions." The Act covers all major GHG emitting sectors of the economy, and all GHGs defined within the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The regulations ultimately adopted to achieve the necessary GHG emissions reductions must be compatible with other environmental laws and cannot "disproportionately impact low-income communities." Regulations must be adopted by 2011, and enforced by 2012.

Additionally, California signed onto the International Carbon Action Partnership in 2007 which seeks to foster information-sharing among countries and states facing climate change challenges.  California also issued reports in 2007 and 2008 that propose policies to reduce emissions in order to comply with the Global Warming Solutions Act.  California is currently the only member state of the Western Climate Initiative that is prepared for the implementation of a cap-and-trade program, largely due to the groundwork laid by AB 32.

Regional Initiatives:

• Western Climate Initiative

More Information:

• 2007 CARB Recommendation Report for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Policies 
• 2008 Climate Action Plan 
• California Climate Change Portal
• Market Advisory Committee Recommendations Report to CARB
• Pew Climate Center summary of AB 32
• California Climate Change Emission Control Regulations Fact Sheet

• Pew Center on Global Climate Change (California) 
• EPA State and Regional Climate Policy Tracking for California