# Presentation: 849252

## U.S. State and Regional Action on Climate Change

- Patrick Hogan
- State Solutions Research Associate
- Pew Center on Global Climate Change
- 2007 EIA Energy Outlook, Modeling, and Data Conference
- March 28, 2007

## The Pew Center

- Founded in May 1998
- Independent, Non-Profit, Non-Partisan
- Research (science and impacts, policy, economics, solutions)
- Education and Outreach
- Business Environmental Leadership Council

## Overview	

- Context
- Motivation for state action
- The landscape of state policies that address climate change
- Highlights from states taking the lead
- State policy diffusion

## State Emissions Are Significant...

- Source: World Resources Institute (Climate Analysis Indicators Tool; online at _[http://cait.wri.org/figures.php](http://cait.wri.org/figures.php)__)__	_

## Motivations for GHG reductions

- Concern about climate impacts
- Economic development
- Energy price volatility
- Energy independence
- Air quality concerns
- Traffic congestion
- Other

## The Landscape of State Policies

- Direct and Indirect GHG Emission Reductions
- Governors and legislators are acting
- Almost Every State is Doing Something:
- Regional Initiatives
- Targets, Climate Action Plans and GHG reporting
- Electricity (renewable energy mandates, carbon adders, public benefit funds, green pricing, REC tracking)
- Transportation (CA GHG vehicle standards, smart growth, transportation management, cleaner fuels and vehicles)
- Ag and Forestry (sequestration, renewable energy, biofuels, ethanol)
- Other (e.g., energy efficiency, waste management)

## RGGI

- First mandatory U.S. GHG cap-and-trade program
- Regional; power plant CO2 emissions
-  Initiated 2003 by NY Gov. Pataki; MOU announced Dec. 2005
- Stabilize emissions at current levels 2009-2015, 10% reduction by 2019
-  Model rule (template) announced August 2006
- Each state must adopt final model rule through legislation or regulation by Dec. 31, 2008
- MA is back in; RI joining; MD joining later this year

## Implications of RGGI

- Potential model for national policy
- First U.S. mandatory cap-and-trade system for GHG emissions
- Possible linkage to CA, EU-ETS, CDM
- Novel standards approach to offsets
- Real data to inform policy
- Allowance allocation is the forum for equity issues

## California Actions

- AB 32: Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
- Set California’s targets at 1990 levels by 2020
- First enforceable state-wide program to cap major industrial GHG emissions and include penalties
- Authorizes market-based mechanisms (cap-and-trade); allows one-year extension on targets
- Possible linking with RGGI, EU-ETS
- Low Carbon Fuels Standard (reduce carbon intensity of vehicle fuels sold in California at least 10% by 2020)
- SB 1368: greenhouse gas performance standard for new long-term electricity contracts
- Renewable Portfolio Standard (20% by 2010)
- Vehicle GHG standards: 22% reduction by 2012; 30% by 2016

## State Action Across the Country

- South Carolina – Governor’s Climate, Energy, and Commerce Advisory 	Committee (Feb. 2007)
- Illinois
- Governor announced new statewide targets (1990 levels by 2020, 60% below by 2050); Advisory Group to recommend strategies (Feb. 2007)
- New Jersey: Executive order establishing new greenhouse gas emissions targets for the state of 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050 (Feb. 2007)
- Florida
- Energy Commission (June 2006)
- Alaska
- Climate Impact Assessment Commission (May 2006)

## State Action Across the Country

- Arizona
- Targets (Sept. 2006): GHG emissions at 2000 levels by 2020, 50% below this by 2040
- New Mexico
- 2000 levels by 2012, 10% below 2000 by 2020
- Governor’s Dec. 2006 executive order carries out recommendations from Governor’s Advisory group (est. June 2005) to achieve emissions targets
- North Carolina
- Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change (est. Sept. 2005)
- Montana
- Governor created climate change advisory council (April 2006)

## Slide 12

## Slide 13

## Slide 14

## Multi-State Climate Registry

**California Climate Action Registry (CCAR)****	**

**Eastern Climate Registry (ECR)**

**Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO)**

**Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP)**

**Observer States**

**Source: NESCAUM MSCR Fact Sheet**

## Slide 18

## Conclusion

- Momentum is picking up at the federal level, but states are still leading on climate
- Achieving real emissions reductions
- States provide lessons for federal action
- Even with federal action, states will play a key role
- Trend toward regional action
- Multiple drivers, multiple benefits

## Further information

- Pew Center on Global Climate Change
- _[www.pewclimate.org](http://cait.wri.org/figures.php?page=USToIntlGHGMap-Regions&view=100)_