As of today roughly 1.4% of the world's greenhouse gas or 6.2 of the total U.S greenhouse gases is produced by the state of California, it is for this reason that the state has been working feverishly to find solutions to affect and impact global climate change since 1988. In 2005 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an Executive Order to further advance cream and clean and renewable energies, this order the California global warming solutions act of 2006 would establish the first in the world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms that would result in quantifiable and impact foam yet cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases.
Part of these initiatives include;
* Renewable Electricity Standard
* Scoping Plan
* AB 32 Fee Regulation
* Cap-and-Trade
* Clean Car Standard (Pavley)
* Early Action Measures
* Low Carbon Fuel Standard
* Voluntary Actions
* Advisory Committees
* Public Health Workgroup
* Reporting and Inventory
* Verification
* Greenhouse Gas Protocols
* Climate Action Team (CAT)
California is not acting alone in fact in 2008 at the Florida summit on global climate change, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed the 800 industry leaders, policymakers, academics, environmentalists, over and business leaders, as well as scientists. The governor outlined how local governments and the federal government can work together to create comprehensive and innovative energy policy that would be to set dependence on foreign oil help consumers protect the planet by building a less petroleum dependent, independent nation, removing the stranglehold that foreign governments have on our nation.
California and Florida two of the largest states in the nation have partnered to fight global warming and cut greenhouse gas emissions by increasing renewable energy.
The governor stated that the nation needs to follow California's roadmap that emphasizes and reinforces innovation and invests in new technologies, this new energy policy would give consumers alternatives when they arrive at the pump, and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In a recent poll three out of four California voters support the state energy policies to reduce global warming pollution nearly 90% stated but a that it was extremely crucial to reduce our dependence on oil.
The governor has set milestones by 2010 to increase California's renewable energy 20% and aspires to reach 33% by 2020. In 2007 the California governor unveiled the world's first "carbon fuel standard" this is the first of its kind standard which would requires the fuel refineries and producers to reduce the amount of carbon essentially the carbon intensity from California passenger vehicles, this mandating a demand for low carbon fuels. From the outset this standard will reduce the carbon intensity of by at least 10% by 2020.
In addition to the above-mentioned policies which are aimed at fostering renewable energy growth, the great state of California has also launched the world's most aggressive energy efficiency program in the world. It is projected that over the three-year period the program will in itself eliminate the need to construct the equivalent of three full-scale power plants, reducing energy costs for homes and businesses in the state of California by $5 billion dollars.