BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1253|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 445-6614 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1253
Author: Sher (D)
Amended: 4/20/99
Vote: 21
SENATE ENERGY, U. & C. COMMITTEE : 6-3, 4/13/99
AYES: Bowen, Baca, Hughes, Peace, Solis, Speier
NOES: Brulte, Kelley, Mountjoy
NOT VOTING: Alarcon, Vasconcellos
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 9-4, 5/27/99
AYES: Johnston, Alpert, Bowen, Burton, Escutia, Karnette,
McPherson, Perata, Vasconcellos
NOES: Johnson, Kelley, Leslie, Mountjoy
SUBJECT : Climate change
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the California Energy
Commission, in consultation with the Air Resources Board,
to update the inventory of the sources of greenhouse gas
emissions from sources in the state.
ANALYSIS : The primary component of greenhouse emissions
is carbon dioxide. Methane, nitrous oxide and
chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) are other significant
contributions. Greenhouse emissions come from both natural
and human-caused sources.
Since the early 1980's, the leaders of the world's
CONTINUED
SB 1253
Page
2
industrialized countries, as well as leading members of the
scientific community, have become increasingly concerned
about the potential for human-generated greenhouse gas
emissions to alter the earth's atmosphere and climate.
Most scientists agree that human-generated gases, combined
with naturally occurring gases, can "thicken" the earth's
gaseous atmospheric blanket, producing a "greenhouse
effect." By holding warmth in, the effect interrupts the
flow of energy that drives the earth's climate system,
which increases global temperature.
Existing law (AB 4420 - Sher, Chapter 1506, Statutes of
1988), requires the California Energy Commission (CEC), in
consultation with the Air Resources Board (ARB), the
University of California, the State Department of Water
Resources, and the State Department of Food and
Agriculture, to conduct a study on global warming effects
on California's energy supply and demand, economy,
environment, agriculture and water supplies, and to report
its recommendations to the Legislature and Governor by June
1, 1990. That study was completed in 1990 and updated in
1998.
In December 1995, the United Nations(UN) Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change issued a report stating "the
balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence
on global climate."
Most recently, the UN convention on climate change in
Kyoto, Japan in December 1997, industrialized nations
agreed to reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse
gases by 5.2% (with the U.S. agreeing to reduce emissions
by 7%) by 2012.
The "Kyoto Protocol" aims to lower overall emissions from a
group of six greenhouse gases by 2012. According to the UN
documents, many industrialized countries have not succeeded
in meeting their earlier non-binding agreement to reduce
emissions and, as a result, emissions have actually grown
since 1990.
This bill requires the CEC to update the inventory of
greenhouse gas emissions in California, in consultation
SB 1253
Page
3
with ARB. The bill also requires the CEC to provide
information to state, regional and local agencies on cost
effective and technically feasible methods for reducing
those emissions. In addition, the bill requires the CEC to
convene an interagency task force consisting of state
agencies with jurisdiction over matters affecting climate
change to ensure that policies are coordinated at the state
level. The CEC is required to update the inventory every
five years.
Related Legislation
This bill is similar to SB 1941 (Sher), which was vetoed in
1998. In his veto message, Governor Wilson concluded that
SB 1941 was unnecessary because the CEC had already
developed and updated an inventory of the sources of
greenhouse gas emissions within the state. In addition,
Governor Wilson found:
"(T)he bill's requirement that the CEC provide information
to state, regional and local agencies on cost-effective and
technologically feasible options to reduce the production
of greenhouse gases is infeasible. Because uncertainty
exists about the effects that reducing greenhouse gas
emissions in California would have on global warming
trends, there is no way to determine how one particular
measure implemented in California would have a more
positive or negative consequence than any other measure."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
Uknown, probably $200,000 one time cost to the CEC. Minor,
absorbable costs to the ARB.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/27/99)
California Council on Environmental and Economic Balance
Planning and Conservation League
Sierra Club
Union of Concerned Scientists
SB 1253
Page
4
NC:cm 5/28/99 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****