Reducing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in California

The Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are powerful climate forcers that remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time than longer-lived climate pollutants, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂). They include methane, fluorinated gases including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and black carbon. Their relative potency, when measured in terms of how they heat the atmosphere, can be tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times greater than that of CO₂. SLCPs are harmful air pollutants and the impacts of SLCPs are especially strong over the short term. Reducing these emissions can make an immediate beneficial impact on climate change and improve public health.

Senate Bill 605 (Lara, Chapter 523, Statutes of 2014) directed CARB to develop a comprehensive SLCP strategy, in coordination with other state agencies and local air quality management and air pollution control districts to reduce emissions of SLCPs. SB 1383 (Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) directed the Board to approve and begin implementing the plan by January 1, 2018, and set statewide 2030 emission reduction targets for methane, HFCs, and anthropogenic black carbon. The SLCP Reduction Strategy was approved by the Board in March 2017. SB 1383 also included a number of directives for addressing dairy and livestock sector methane emissions and landfill methane emissions via diversion of organic material from the waste stream.

Dairy and Livestock Greenhouse Gas Reduction Working Group

SB 1383 requires the formation of a dairy and livestock sector Working Group to identify and address technical, market, regulatory, and other barriers to the development of dairy methane reduction projects. The Working Group, made up of CDFA, partner agencies and a diverse group of stakeholders and experts, will produce recommendations to advance methane reductions on California dairies and livestock operations while also supporting the resiliency and sustainability of California’s world-renown dairy and livestock industry. The Working Group will also foster important relationships and build the cooperation necessary to maximize environmental benefits, minimize impacts to disadvantaged communities, and utilize available resources efficiently.

SLCP Reduction Strategy Documents

SLCP Reduction Strategy

Resumen Ejecutive de la Estrategia de Reducción de CCVC

Final Pilot Financial Mechanism White Paper

In response to SB 1383 directive to develop a pilot financial mechanism to reduce uncertainty of credits associated with dairy projects producing transportation fuels, CARB produced this white paper which discuses several alternative designs for the pilot financial mechanism, estimates the potential amount of funding needed to implement a financial mechanism, provides detail on how to implement the mechanism, and lists potential program administrators that can operate such a program.

Policies to Encourage Dairy Biomethane Projects and Other Biomethane Projects to Reduce Methane Emissions

Under SB 1383, CARB, in consultation with the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), is required to establish energy infrastructure development and procurement policies needed to encourage dairy biomethane projects to meet the SB 1383 target to reduce methane emissions from livestock and dairy manure management operations. The "Policies to Encourage Dairy Biomethane Projects and Other Projects to Reduce Methane Emissions" document outlines CARB's existing policies adopted by the Board in the SLCP Reduction Strategy, and summarizes the projects that CARB and other State agencies are engaged in toward the development of targeted policies to encourage dairy biomethane and other projects to meet SB 1383’s methane targets. These include the Dairy and Livestock Working Group, CEC’s 2017 Integrated Energy Policy Report, CPUC’s dairy biomethane pilots, CARB guidance on environmental credits, CARB’s pilot financial mechanism, California Council on Science and Technology’s study of CPUC biomethane pipeline standards, and the 2018 Bioeconomy Summit.

Archived Meetings and Documents Portal

Staying in Touch

To receive electronic notices of future meetings and availability of materials, you can sign up with the climate change list server at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/listserv/listserv_ind.php?listname=cc

For information, please contact:
Marcelle Surovik at msurovik@arb.ca.gov

Contact Us

(800) 242-4450 | helpline@arb.ca.gov
1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812

The California Air Resources Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices under the California Environmental Protection Agency.