Lyn Allison (Victoria, Australian Democrats) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

Californian Republican Governor, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger, has signed the Californian Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006,

(ii)

the Act aims to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent, to 1990 levels, by 2020 and by 2050 will reduce emission to 80 per cent below 1990 levels, and

(iii)

the Act requires the Californian Air Resources Board (CARB) to:

•   Establish a statewide greenhouse gas emissions cap for 2020, based on 1990 emissions by January 1, 2008.

•   Adopt mandatory reporting rules for significant sources of greenhouse gases by January 1, 2009.

•   Adopt a plan by January 1, 2009 indicating how emission reductions will be achieved from significant greenhouse gas sources via regulations, market mechanisms and other actions.

•   Adopt regulations by January 1, 2011 to achieve the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas [emissions] including provisions for using both market mechanisms and alternative compliance mechanisms.

•   Convene an Environmental Justice Advisory Committee and an Economic and Technology Advancement Advisory Committee to advise CARB.

•   Ensure public notice and opportunity for comment for all CARB actions; and

(b)

calls on the Federal Government to follow California’s lead and legislate to set greenhouse gas reduction targets, introduce caps on emissions and introduce market and regulatory mechanisms to achieve reductions.

Question put.