Reducing Greenhouses Gases from Transportation: California Strategies under AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) held a Congressional briefing on transportation strategies to comply with California ’s new law, the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), that requires statewide greenhouse gas emissions to return to 1990 levels by 2020. Like the rest of the nation, California’s transportation is 96 percent reliant on oil, and transportation contributes 40 percent of the state’s global warming pollution. Meeting the law’s requirement requires a comprehensive strategy to improve petroleum-fueled vehicles, reduce travel demand, and a switch to low carbon fuels.

The Leadership of the 110th Congress has said that addressing oil dependence and climate change are legislative priorities. The California standard provides an important blueprint for the national development of a comprehensive strategy to reduce global warming pollution that enhances national and economic security, by substantially reducing global petroleum consumption from transportation. Our speakers discussed key strategies including California ’s landmark Clean Cars Law (AB 1493, Pavley), including the recently announced Low Carbon Fuel Standard.