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Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release
announcing the adoption of measures designed to quickly diminish
many greenhouse gas emissions.
Thank You
Dimitri Stanich
ARB/PIO
_______________________________________________________________


Release 07-23  	   	   	 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2007 	  	

CONTACT: 
Gennet Paauwe
916) 322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov


California Moves Swiftly to Further Address Climate Change
Emissions; Early Action Items Approved Today

LOS ANGELES - Today the California Air Resources Board (ARB or
Board) approved early action measures to address climate change
emissions as set forth in the landmark California Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32).

"Global warming is one of the most serious issues we face
today," said ARB Chairman Dr. Robert F. Sawyer. "These early
actions will realize prompt emission reductions while a more
comprehensive plan is developed."

The early actions include three specific greenhouse gas control
rules. These are to be adopted and enforced before January 1,
2010, along with 32 other climate-protecting measures the Board
is developing between now and 2011. The report divides early
actions into three categories:

    * Group 1 - GHG rules for immediate adoption and
implementation
    * Group 2 - Several additional GHG measures under
development
    * Group 3 - Air pollution controls with potential climate
co-benefits 


The three adopted regulations meet the narrow legal definition
of "discrete early action GHG reduction measures." They are:

    * A low-carbon fuel standard - reducing carbon intensity in
California fuels
    * Reduction of refrigerant losses from motor vehicle air
conditioning system maintenance - restricting the sale of
"do-it-yourself" automotive refrigerants
    * Increased methane capture from landfills - requiring
broader use of state-of-the-art methane capture technologies 


Today's approval does not restrict the Board from making
additions to the early actions list should new climate change
emission reduction methods present themselves at a later date.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 established
a statewide target for greenhouse gas reductions by 2020 and
requires the ARB to adopt a plan and individual measures to
achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Act mandates that California's greenhouse gas emissions be
reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, an ambitious 25% percent cut in
emissions compared to business as usual. The ARB must adopt a
comprehensive blueprint for achieving that goal by the end of
2008 and complete the necessary rulemaking to implement that
plan by the end of 2011. In the meantime, the Act requires
"discrete early action measures" to ensure steady progress in
mitigating climate change. As narrowly defined in the law, the
discrete early actions must be regulations, adopted and
enforceable no later than January 1, 2010. However, there are
many other near-term actions identified by ARB and stakeholders
that appear feasible or that are already underway that will
contribute achieving to the state's ultimate GHG reduction
goal.

For a complete copy of the staff report, please go here.
In addition, the staff presentation can be found here.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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