Bill Text: CA AB2832 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 2832 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Greenhouse gases: carbon neutrality.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-02 - Referred to Com. on NAT. RES. [AB2832 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB2832-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 2832

Introduced by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia, Bloom, Friedman, Eduardo Garcia, McCarty, Muratsuchi, and Robert Rivas
(Principal coauthor: Senator Skinner)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Holden and Mark Stone)

February 20, 2020

An act to add Section 38562.2 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 2832, as introduced, Cristina Garcia. Greenhouse gases: carbon neutrality.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. The act requires the state board to prepare and approve a scoping plan for achieving the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and to update the scoping plan at least once every 5 years.

This bill would declare the policy of the state to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and to achieve and maintain net negative greenhouse gas emissions thereafter. The bill would require the state board to work with relevant state agencies to develop a framework for implementation and accounting that tracks progress toward achieving carbon neutrality, and to ensure that updates to the scoping plan identify and recommend measures to achieve carbon neutrality. The bill would require a specified plan prepared by the state board and other specified agencies to include sequestration targets consistent with achieving carbon neutrality, and would impose other requirements on state agencies relating to working toward carbon neutrality.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 38562.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

38562.2.

(a) It is the policy of the state to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, and to achieve and maintain net negative greenhouse gas emissions thereafter. This carbon neutrality goal is in addition to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in Sections 38550 and 38566.

(b) The state board shall work with relevant state agencies to do both of the following:

(1) Develop a framework for implementation and accounting that tracks progress toward achieving carbon neutrality.

(2) Ensure that updates to the scoping plan required pursuant to Section 38561 identify and recommend measures to achieve carbon neutrality.

(c) The Natural and Working Lands Climate Change Implementation Plan, prepared by the state board, the Natural Resources Agency, the California Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Food and Agriculture, shall include sequestration targets consistent with achieving carbon neutrality.

(d) Policies and programs undertaken by state agencies to achieve carbon neutrality shall do both of the following:

(1) Seek to improve air quality and support the health and economic resiliency of urban and rural communities, particularly low-income and disadvantaged communities.

(2) Be implemented in a manner that supports climate adaptation and biodiversity, including by protecting the state’s water supply, water quality, and native plants and animals.

(e) In working toward the policy goal stated in subdivision (a), state agencies shall engage the support, participation, and partnership of universities, businesses, investors, and communities, as appropriate, to achieve carbon neutrality.