Asm. Laird Statement from Global Warming Solutions Act Hearing

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), member of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, today released the following statement about the hearing held today on the implementation of Assembly Bill 32 (Núñez/Pavley), the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006:

“AB 32 placed an enormous amount of authority in CARB because they’re science-based and independent, and it was the intent of the legislature that just such an agency guide California’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. 

Today’s testimony raised serious concerns about the governor’s office attempting to change—after the fact—the careful balance of strategies that was achieved in crafting AB 32.
Global warming is the single most important issue of our time.  Protecting, and even enhancing, the science-based and independent work of CARB has never been more important.  Today’s hearing served as a marker to judge that independence as we take actions to meet AB 32’s goal.”

AB32 was the subject of much bipartisan negotiation and cooperation in its writing and enactment last year.  The act, designed to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020, had various key parts—investing in the independent Air Board regulatory and oversight powers, early action steps to be decided by July 1 of this year, and further regulatory steps and a study of market mechanisms to achieve the goal. 

Laird background on global warming and climate change:

Mr. Laird was among the first three Assemblymembers to co-author AB 32 when it was introduced the first day of session in December 2004.  He is author of a package of bills currently in the Senate related to climate change, including sea level rise, water conservation and green building standards.

On July 8, 2006, Mr. Laird hosted a first-of-its-kind free screening of “An Inconvenient Truth,” following by a panel discussion held in the theater.

Mr. Laird chaired the Assembly Select Committee on California Water Needs and Climate change, which produced a forward-thinking report in 2003.

For more on Mr. Laird’s efforts related to climate change and the environment, visit the Global Warming section of his Website.