BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1253
Page 1
Date of Hearing: July 12, 1999
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Howard Wayne, Chair
SB 1253 (Sher) - As Amended: July 7, 1999
SENATE VOTE : 24-14
SUBJECT : Climate change: greenhouse gases
SUMMARY : Requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake a
variety of studies and activities focused on the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Energy Commission, among other duties, to
analyze the environmental consequences of trends in the
consumption of energy.
1)Requires the Energy Commission (pursuant to an uncodified
section added by Chapter 1506, Statutes of 1988), in
consultation with the Air Resources Board (ARB), the
University of California, the Department of Water Resources,
and the Department of Food and Agriculture, to have conducted
a study by June 1, 1990, on how global warming trends may
affect the state's energy supply and demand, economy,
environment, agriculture, and water supplies.
THIS BILL : Requires the Energy Commission, in consultation with
the ARB, the Department of Forestry, the Department of
Transportation, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the
Integrated Waste Management Board, and other unspecified state
agencies, to accomplish the following:
1)Update the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from all
sources identified in a 1998 Energy Commission report titled,
Appendix A: Historical and Forecasted Greenhouse Gas Emission
Inventories for California . Natural sources are to be
included to extent information is available.
1)Include in the inventory update discussions comparing
California's inventory with similar inventories prepared for
the United States, other states, and other countries, using
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generic indicators of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to the
extent available.
1)Acquire and develop data on global climate change issues,
provide government agencies, utilities and business sectors
with information on the cost effectiveness and technical
feasibility of greenhouse gas reduction methods. The bill
also requires the Energy Commission to provide for the
exchange of information, and advise state agencies on methods
to reduce greenhouse gases.
1)After conducting at least one public hearing, update the
inventory every five years, and report to the Governor and the
Legislature and post the inventory and the report on the
internet after each update.
1)Convene an interagency task force to ensure policy
coordination.
1)Establish a climate change advisory committee to make
recommendations to the Energy Commission regarding the most
equitable and efficient ways to implement international and
national climate change requirements and standards. The
advisory committee shall be chaired by the Energy Commission
and include representation from major industrial and energy
businesses, utilities, forestry, agriculture, local
government, and environmental groups, and shall conduct
meetings open to public participation.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Committee on
Appropriations, this bill likely will result in one time general
fund costs to the Energy Commission of approximately $200,000,
and minor, absorbable costs to the ARB.
COMMENTS :
1) Background on Climate Change Issues
"Greenhouse gases" is the term given to air emissions that
contribute to global climate change. These emissions are
primarily composed of carbon dioxide, and also include methane,
nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Greenhouse gases are
generated from both natural and human-generated sources,
including combustion of fossil fuels, mining, municipal solid
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waste landfills, animal waste, municipal wastewater treatment,
and oil and gas production.
Since the early 1980's, 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 a
"greenhouse effect" is caused when human-generated emissions mix
with other naturally occurring gases to "thicken" the earth's
atmospheric "blanket." By trapping heat and warmth, the effect
interrupts the flow of energy that drives the earth's climate
system, and increases global temperature. In December of 1995,
the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
found that "the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human
influence on global climate."
In December of 1997, the United Nations convened a climate
change meeting in Kyoto, Japan. The result was the "Kyoto
Protocol", an agreement by the industrialized nations to reduce
their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% by 2012
(the United States agreed to a 7% reduction). According to
United Nations documents, many industrialized countries have not
succeeded in meeting earlier agreements to reduce emissions and,
as a result, emissions have actually increased since 1990. As
yet, Congress has not ratified the Kyoto treaty.
2) Prior Legislative Efforts
In 1988, the Legislature passed AB 4420 (Sher) (Chapter 1507,
Statutes of 1988), directing the Energy Commission to study the
potential impacts of global climate change trends on the state,
including implications for energy supply and demand and impacts
on the economy, environment, water supplies, and transportation.
The Energy Commission's report, 1991 Global Climate Change:
Potential Impacts and Policy Recommendations , was adopted by the
Commission and submitted to the Legislature in November 1991.
The study, and an accompanying greenhouse gas emissions
inventory were updated in 1998, under a contract with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the 1998 report, carbon dioxide emissions represent
close to 88% of all greenhouse gases emitted in the state, and
transportation produces nearly 57% of the state's carbon dioxide
emissions. The report states that the most significant
reductions in carbon dioxide emissions can be achieved through
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(1) continued energy efficiency programs in all sectors,
including electricity generation; (2) further developing and
integrating renewable energy sources into electricity supplies;
and, (3) promoting transportation energy efficiency strategies.
The report evaluates specific strategies in each of these
areas. In addition, the report focuses on improvements in
forestry, solid waste and livestock management for reduction in
both carbon dioxide and methane emissions (methane is the second
most significant greenhouse gas).
1)Purpose of this Bill
This bill is intended to build upon these earlier studies, to
require that the inventory be updated every five years, and to
include task force, advisory committee, data gathering, and
advisory requirements, to ensure that the Energy Commission
continues to focus attention on this problem.
This bill is similar to SB 1941 (Sher) of 1998, which was vetoed
by former Governor Wilson.
4) Suggested Amendment
Although this bill requires an initial update of the inventory
and then regular updates every five years, it does not specify a
deadline for the initial update.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Union of Concerned Scientists (sponsor)
California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance
Planning and Conservation League
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Sally Magnani Knox / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092