States Taking Action on Climate

Regional and state agreements to limit emissions

Posted: 12-Sep-2006; Updated: 13-Sep-2007

States' willingness to attempt to address climate change has been widely underreported. In fact, nearly half of the states have proposed—and in most cases, passed—legislation to address some aspect of climate change. A wide variety of programs and policies have been approved in states that span the political spectrum. Here are some of the larger efforts underway.

California's Global Warming Solutions Act

Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the California Global Warming Solutions Act, was approved by both houses of the state legislature in August 2006. The bill now awaits Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature, which is expected in September. AB 32 would limit the state’s global warming emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and institute a mandatory emissions reporting system to monitor compliance. AB 32 would also allow for market mechanisms to provide incentives to businesses to reduce emissions while safeguarding local communities. (Read more about AB32 [PDF].) California is now poised to be the the largest state to take on global warming.

This legislation follows on Governor Schwarzenegger's executive order, which sets bold targets to reduce heat-trapping gases, using a set of benchmarks and target dates: 11 percent by 2010, 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. California is the sixth largest economy in the world, and if it were a country, it would have the 12th largest greenhouse gas inventory in the world.

The Northeastern States Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

Seven states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont—along with the Eastern Canadian Provinces as observers have agreed to create a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), starting with the electric power sector. The proposed plan includes a two-phase cap; stabilization a current emissions through 2015, followed by a 10% reduction between 2015 and 2020. Flexible mechanisms include unlimited banking of allowances, using offsets to meet up to 50% of projected compliance obligations and recognizing credit for early action between 2005 and 2009. (Learn more.)

The West Coast Governors Global Warming Initiative

In September 2003, the governors of California, Oregon and Washington announced a joint strategy to reduce global warming. In November 2004, they approved a series of detailed recommendations to reduce global warming pollution, including targets for state vehicle fleets, hybrid vehicles purchases, new energy efficient standards for up to 14 products not under Federal regulation, and more stringent energy building codes with a goal of achieving at least 15% cumulative savings by each state by 2015.  California is pursuing a multi-sector greenhouse gas emissions target.

Mandatory Renewable Energy Programs 

At least 18 states have legislated that part of their electricity be generated by non-emitting renewable energy:

New wave of state GHG vehicle emissions standards

In July 2002, California became the first state in the nation to mandate reductions in GHG emissions from passenger cars and trucks.  This law requires automakers to achieve "the maximum feasible and cost-effective reduction" of greenhouse gas emissions beginning with model year 2009 vehicles. In September 2004 the California Air Resources Board unanimously adopted emissions standards that will phase in GHG reductions for all new vehicles sold in the state, reaching a 30% reduction by 2016. Although the rule faces legal challenges by the auto manufacturers (see section below), Governor Schwarzenegger and the State of California remain supportive of the measure and confident in the State's legal authority to take action to reduce its largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. (More on California's clean car standards.)

Following California's lead, 14 states have adopted California's vehicle emissions standards: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Others are considering adoption.  In November 2004, Canadian NGOs, provincial governments and parliament announced their intention to adopt the California standard by 2006.  With California, Oregon, Washington, the Northeast states and Canada on board with the California standards, around 40 percent of the US-Canada new car market would be subject to these standards.

Automakers challenge California's right to regulate vehicle emissions

As of 2005, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers including BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen, and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, including Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, were parties to the lawsuit challenging California's Pavley automotive standards. (More on lawsuit.)

Although some tout their "green" image and have significantly expanded the market for hybrids and other advanced technology vehicles in the U.S., European and Japanese automakers are effectively preventing California and other states from making a commitment to provide its citizens with the clean cars they desire.  Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Sierra Club have been granted intervenor status in this case.

In April 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency does have the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. As of September 2007, though, EPA has not granted California the waiver it needs to go forward with the law. On September 12, 2007, a federal judge in the Vermont case ruled in favor of California's Clean Cars law. (Learn more on the Vermont court case at our Climate 411 blog and in our press release.)

Over 30 states have approved a variety of laws dealing with global warming, a clear indication that inaction is at the federal, not the state, level.