Climate change related legislation has
been a major focus in Sacramento.
Numerous climate change and energy
related bills are under consideration
in the Legislature, including a Joint
Resolution recommending that Congress
"establish a comprehensive framework,
including dedicated funding, for adapting
our nation's wildlife, habitats, coasts,
watersheds, rivers, and other natural
resources and ecosystems to the impacts
of climate change" (AJR 26). The state is
considering how to balance its present
and future energy needs, the emissions
control targets mandated by AB 32 (Global
Warming Solutions Act of 2006), and the
state's ongoing budget crisis.
Complicating the situation is a new ballot
initiative that has recently been qualified
for the November elections. Earlier this
year, the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO)
was asked to analyze the net impact on
jobs in California from the implementation
of AB 32. In March, the LAO responded by
asserting that the initial assessment of the
economic impact of AB 32 provided by the
California Air Resources Board (CARB) may
not have provided an accurate estimate
of the job impacts over time. In contrast
with CARB's assessment, which indicated
a modest growth in jobs, the LAO analysis
indicated that the near-term impact would
result in minor job losses, while the longterm
impact remains unknown.
Partially in response to the LAO analysis,
a coalition of oil companies and taxpayer
groups mounted a campaign to place an
initiative on the ballot that would place
a hold on implementing compliance
with AB 32. In May 2010, the coalition
submitted over 800,000 signatures to the
Registrar of Voters, qualifying the initiative
for the ballot.
The potential impact of the initiative on
other climate change related legislation is
not clear at this time.
