California’s total global warming emissions
You may already know that AB32 is the historic state climate law passed in 2006 that is reducing pollution, saving Californians money, and improving public health—especially in communities that are most affected by air pollution. AB32 currently works to reduce emissions from a variety of sectors, including electricity generation.
Starting on January 1st 2015, the AB32 cap on emissions is scheduled to cover transportation fuels—the largest single source of emissions in California, accounting for nearly 40 percent of California’s total global warming emissions.
Oil companies are standing in the way
Reducing emissions from transportation is a critical step for California to meet its climate goals and help mitigate the costly impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, the oil industry is orchestrating a campaign to convince the public and California’s elected leaders to exempt transportation fuels from the AB32 program.
Hiding behind “Astroturf” front groups with names like “Fed Up at the Pump”, arranging a barrage of paid advertisements and op-eds in local papers by their allies, and increasing campaign contributions to state legislators, oil interests hope to turn back the clock and get transportation fuels out from under requirements to reduce their emissions as now required by law. They are using scare tactics of skyrocketing gas prices to avoid accountability for their carbon emissions and delay the transition to cleaner fuels. They are also using similar tactics in Oregon and Washington to try to prevent the establishment and/or extension of clean fuels policies in those states.