subject: Organizations Oppose California Climate Action [print this page] Organizations Oppose California Climate Action
AB 42 was introduced in 2006 by the California legislature as a way of seeking to control emissions throughout the state within a "cap and trade" scheme. Since its inception, the legislation has attracted considerable opposition, yet has survived challenges meant to water down or even suspend its effects. As the all-important November ballots approach, it seems that it will face a significant challenge, with a possible voter referendum ahead.California climate action proponents are against a clause within the state's November ballot asking voters whether or not AB 42 should be suspended. Supporters of the suspension suggest that the State's unemployment rate is far too high and will be aggravated should the legislation effectively add to the price of state energy.AB 42 was introduced in 2006 by the California legislature as a way of seeking to control emissions throughout the state within a "cap and trade" scheme. Since its inception, the legislation has attracted considerable opposition, yet has survived challenges meant to water down or even suspend its effects. As the all-important November ballots approach, it seems that it will face a significant challenge, with a possible voter referendum ahead.A group supported by the oil industry has managed to raise more than 800,000 signatures, calling for the suspension of the Global Warming Solutions Act. This is well past the threshold requirement for inclusion on the ballot in November and it now seems that this question will, indeed, be asked.As the State's answer to the call of the Montreal Kyoto protocol, AB 42's cap and trade scheme is going to take off starting 2012. California climate action is calling for greenhouse gas emissions levels to be reduced to those prevalent in 1990 by the time we get to 2020. The responsible agency that implements this law is the California Air Resources Board.It is interesting to see that several significant oil companies and industry groups have invested considerable sums of money to help gather the 800,000 signatures calling for suspension of AB 42. The powerful lobbying group clearly sees a threat to their interests and is not swayed by the argument that this California climate action legislation could offset costs by creating "clean" jobs instead.It is certain that California climate action supporters have been hit by the effects of the recession. Indeed, these effects have had potentially far-reaching consequences for climate legislation on the federal level as well. Forging the law is seen to put pressure on the cost of energy, which can add to the already problematic economy, and opponents of the carbon tax and trading program are posing strong in this.Gov. Schwarzenegger seems to back the suspension of the California Climate Action legislation which he himself signed to become a law some time in 2006. Should the item appear on the ballot and be voted down, climate action proponents could suffer a fairly significant setback.If AB 42 does not win in the ballots coming by November, a new version needs to be proposed thereafter. As the economic landscape changes and more pressure is exerted by some international bodies, there will be inevitable further pressure on individual organizations to become sustainable and to cut back on energy use.
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
