California Adopts Ambitious 40% by 2030 GHG Reduction Target

California will seek to reduce its greenhouse gases (GHG) by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, a new executive action by Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. orders. 

Executive order B-30-15 issued on April 29 comes ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris later this year.

California is one of 20 U.S. states (plus the District of Columbia) with targets to slash GHG emissions. Its major initiatives are outlined in Assembly Bill 32, which was signed into law in 2006.

The state’s current efforts aim to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020—which is a reduction of about 30%. It’s ultimate goal is an 80% reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.

“This is in line with the scientifically established levels needed in the U.S. to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius – the warming threshold at which scientists say there will likely be major climate disruptions such as super droughts and rising sea levels,” a statement from Gov. Brown’s office says.

—Sonal Patel, associate editor (@POWERmagazine, @sonalcpatel)