California Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds President Obama’s Budget Proposal to Fight Global Warming Pollution

02/26/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement on President Obama’s budget proposal for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to begin developing a national cap-and-trade program:

“Fighting climate change is the number one environmental challenge facing this generation, and the only way to realize real reductions in our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions is through a strict cap. Establishing that cap economy-wide is also the best way to ensure America’s businesses are all competing on a level playing field.

Article continues below...

“In California, we know that the environment and the economy go hand in hand. For years, we’ve been developing a cap-and-trade program that achieves our environmental goals while also boosting our economy. Our efforts have laid the groundwork for an eventual national climate change program like the one President Obama sets the stage for in his budget.

“Additionally, President Obama’s plan puts the United States into a position of leadership in international climate negotiations that must produce a global solution to this global problem. There is far more economic opportunity worldwide in fighting global warming than there is economic risk.

“Now the hard work begins-to design a program that promotes the environment and economy and preserves the innovation and principles established by California and our partner states and provinces. As I’ve said many times before, we stand ready to work with the new administration and Congress to develop a national program modeled after our great work.”

Governor Schwarzenegger has led California in establishing laws and policies to protect the environment and the economy:

* In October 2007, California and a coalition of European Union countries, U.S. states, Canadian provinces, Norway and New Zealand formed the world’s first International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) to develop solutions to global climate change. ICAP provides an international forum in which governments adopting enforceable caps on greenhouse gas emissions will share experience and best practices on the design of emissions trading mechanisms. ICAP will help ensure trading mechanisms are compatible and work to boost demand for low-carbon products and services, promote innovation and reduce the cost of effective reductions to allow swift and ambitious cuts in global warming emissions.
* In August 2007, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), of which California is a founding participant, announced a common goal to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, reflecting the cumulative total of individual reduction goals for each state and province. California originally signed on to the WCI with the Governors of Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington at the 2007 National Governor’s Association winter meeting in Washington, D.C. on February 26, 2007. Utah, Montana and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, British Columbia, and today Quebec have joined since that time.
* In January 2007, the Governor announced the world’s first Low Carbon Fuel Standard for transportation fuels that requires fuel providers to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels sold in California. This first-of-its-kind standard firmly establishes sustainable demand for lower-carbon fuels without favoring one fuel over another. To start, the standard will reduce the carbon intensity of California’s passenger vehicle fuels by at least 10 percent by 2020 and more thereafter.
* In September 2006, the Governor signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, California’s landmark bill that established a first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. The law will reduce carbon emissions in California to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Governor Schwarzenegger has also called for the state to reduce carbon emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2050.

Source: California Governor