Cleaner Air and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Coming

The California Air Resources Board is set today to propose new measures to cut our state's global warming emissions. These have been in the works for a while and will be a significant step towards reaching the goals of AB 32. LAT:

The proposals include retrofitting trucks, reducing pollution in computer manufacturing and requiring car owners to keep their tires properly inflated. Altogether, they would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2.8 million metric tons a year, an early dent in the 174 million metric tons that must be slashed by the year 2020.

"None of these are huge measures," board Chairman Mary Nichols said in an interview. "But added together, they are quite significant. . . . Every single action we take -- government, businesses, municipalities and individuals alike -- makes a difference toward ultimately cooling our planet."

California's landmark global warming law requires that emissions be reduced to 1990 levels over the next 13 years, a challenge that will require massive changes in many industries, including automotive and electrical power.

The CARB will continue rolling out these types of regulations in the years and months to come. These regulations bring us more than 1/5 of the way to the goal set by AB 32, so there is a lot more to do. It is a great start.