Summary of state laws promoting climate action planning:

1. Executive Order S-3-05 (2005) kicks things off by
• Establishing green house gas (GHG) emissions reductions targets for California; and
• Establishing the Climate Action Team (CAT) led by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA).
2. AB 32 Núñez & Pavley, 2006 – Institutes a mandatory limit on greenhouse gas emissions -- reducing emissions in California to 1990 levels by the year 2020, or 25% below forecasted levels. The bill also directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to establish a mandatory reporting system to track and monitor emission levels and requires CARB to develop various compliance options and enforcement mechanisms.
3. SB 97 (2007) directs the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research to develop California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines to reduce GHG emissions and their effects.
4. ARB adopts a Scoping Plan (2008) for meeting GHG reduction targets, to be enforceable by 2012. The CAT to monitor implementation.
5. SB 375, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (2008), requires reducing GHG emissions from the transportation sector through land use changes and other policies.
6. California adopts CEQA Guidelines for GHG emissions (2009), requiring a submitted project’s
• Incremental contribution to the cumulative effect showing compliance with a previously adopted climate action plan.
• GHG emissions estimates to be based on scientific data with an identified methodology.
• Mitigation Measures Related to GHG Emissions.