"do you think their next step is to apply for some assistance (money) from the UN?"
I think their next step will be to send their PM to ask California for technical assistance.
California Governor to Sign Aggressive Climate-Change Bill
State aims to increase renewable electricity use to 50%, make buildings more energy efficient
 ENLARGE
California Gov. Jerry Brown, left, spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept. 27 about climate change. The governor has met with leaders around the world on the issue. Photo: European Pressphoto Agency
Associated Press
Oct. 7, 2015 12:14 a.m. ET
LOS ANGELES—California is doubling down in its fight against global warming.
On Wednesday, Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign an ambitious climate change measure to increase California’s renewable electricity use to 50% and double energy efficiency in existing buildings by 2030.
“We have the technological means, and now we have the legal mandate to reduce carbon pollution,” Mr. Brown said in a statement after the Legislature approved the bill, SB350, last month.
The Democratic governor began the year with a proposal for the state to set the most aggressive greenhouse-gas emissions benchmark in North America. He discussed global-warming concerns with the pope at the Vatican in July and met with other leaders around the world on the issue.
After previous environmental efforts, California is already on target to generate at least a third of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
The governor and Democratic legislative leaders wanted to include a provision in the current bill to cut petroleum use by half, but they met fierce opposition from the oil lobby.
‘We have the technological means, and now we have the legal mandate to reduce carbon pollution.’
—Gov. Jerry Brown
“I’d say oil has won the skirmish, but they’ve lost the bigger battle,” Mr. Brown said when he announced that lawmakers were scaling back their initial goals.
Democratic leaders blamed the defeat on a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by oil companies. Many moderate Democrats also expressed concern that the petroleum-reduction mandate would hurt California’s working-class residents.
The state will continue to cut oil use through regulatory action, Mr. Brown said.
The final bill Mr. Brown is considering Wednesday defers to state regulators to implement the programs to increase renewable electricity use and double energy efficiency in existing buildings.
Some Republicans expressed disappointment that the bill won’t count homeowners who have installed rooftop solar panels toward the 50% renewable goal. “We should not be excluding the 200,000 Californians who are doing their part to make clean energy a reality,” said Assemblyman Brian Jones (R., Santee).
State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon (D., Los Angeles) was the author of SB350.
wsj.com |
