Covering California’s climate policy and Governor Jerry Brown’s climate legacy, Kate Aronoff of The Intercept spoke with Near Zero’s Danny Cullenward:
And even the policy experts who are excited about SB 100 dispute how much teeth the accompanying executive order will have.
“The only thing that is binding about the new executive order is a requirement that the climate regulator, CARB, discuss and plan for a goal of carbon neutrality by 2045,” said Danny Cullenward, an energy economist who sits on the oversight committee for the state’s cap-and-trade program. “Critically, CARB cannot issue regulations or make program reforms to implement this goal unless those actions are separately authorized by state law, which they are not in this case.” Still, the measure sends an exciting signal, he noted, adding that there’s precedent in recent years for executive orders eventually translating into legislation. “There’s no question the state is taking bold action in several critical areas,” Cullenward cautioned, “but the idea that we’re on track for our current statewide goals and therefore ready to credibly increase ambition is misplaced.”
Read the full article, “California Gov. Jerry Brown Was a Climate Leader, but His Vision Had a Fatal Flaw” by Kate Aronoff, on The Intercept website.