Global warming is real. It’s happening now. And, most importantly, it can be solved. As the world’s 12th largest source of global warming pollution, California can make a world of a differ-ence by curbing greenhouse gas emis-sions right here.

This is exactly what Environment California and our friends and allies in the environmental, public health, religious, and progressive business com-munities are working to make happen.

Mandatory pollution caps needed
A state bill, endorsed by Environment California would set a mandatory cap on global warming pollution from the state’s biggest polluters and give the top environmental agency, California Environmental Protection Agency, authority to adopt and then enforce regulations needed to reduce pollution 25 percent by 2020.

In addition, with 52 seats in Congress, Environment California is working to build support from a majority of California’s congressional delegation for a strong global warming bill in Congress.

Fueling the fire for action, a recent report by Environment California Research and Policy Center shows that California’s global warming pollution has increased 85 percent since 1960, and that without action aimed specifi-cally at curbing pollution, the problem will deepen.

“When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, advocate with Environment California, calling for an immediate cap on global warming pollution. “To protect future generations from the effects of global warming and to spur clean energy solu-tions, we need to stop this trend of increasing pollution.”

The state bill, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) is co-authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (Los Angeles) and Asm. Fran Pavley (Agoura Hills). It would man-date a 25 percent cut in global warming pollution by 2020 through enforceable pollution limits on the state’s biggest polluters, such as oil refineries and power plants, which account for 60 percent of the state’s global warming pollution (for more details on the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, visit our Web site at www.EnvironmentCalifornia.org).

Key to the bill becoming state law and a national precedent is Gov. Schwarzenegger, who in 2005 said, “I say the debate is over. We know the sci-ence. We see the threat. And we know the time for action is now.”

Whether Speaker Nuñez and Asm. Pavley are able to lead their colleagues in the Legislature to pass AB 32 is one question. And whether Schwarzenegger signs the toughest global warming bill ever introduced in America is yet to be seen. Opposition to the bill is growing from some of the state’s most powerful polluters, such as the Western States Petroleum Association, which opposes mandatory cuts in pollution.

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Action in congress
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (Los Angeles) has introduced his own bill, the Safe Climate Act, aimed at achieving the same reductions in global warming pollution on a national scale.
Ultimately, at both the state and fed-eral level, action on global warming is coming no time too soon. The early effects of global warming are evident in California and worldwide. According to NASA, 2005 was the warmest year ever recorded. Left unchecked, glob-al warming threatens to cause serious water shortages in California as rivers and streams fed by diminishing Sierra snow-pack dry up, and as sea levels rise, threatening to inundate the coast.

California and the U.S. can substan-tially reduce global warming pollution by using existing technologies to make industry, power plants and cars more efficient and by increasing our use of clean, renewable energy, such as wind, solar and geothermal.

“Environment California’s research shows how the problem has been growing for decades,” said Congressman Henry Waxman, author of the Safe Climate Act. “Now is the time to heed the scien-tists and start healing the climate.”

The bottom-line is, whether at the local, state or federal level, California can help solve global warming right here, right now. Taking action today will not only help head off problems like increased flooding and wildfires; it also will help grow our economy and bring greater energy independence and savings for all Californians.

“The impacts of global warming are almost too much to comprehend,” said Del Chiaro. “But the solutions, like building a million solar roofs, are simple, beneficial and available right now.”