Carbon neutrality: comprehensive strategy.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 designates the State Air Resources Board as the state agency charged with monitoring and regulating sources of emissions of greenhouse gases. The state board is required to approve a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit equivalent to the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level in 1990 to be achieved by 2020 and to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below the 1990 level by 2030. Existing law requires the State Air Resources Board to approve and begin implementing a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants to achieve a reduction in methane by 40%, hydrofluorocarbon gases by 40%, and anthropogenic black carbon by 50% below 2013 levels by 2030, as specified. This bill would require the state board, no later than July 1, 2021, to adopt a comprehensive strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in the state by no later than December 31, 2045, as specified. The bill would require the state board, before adopting the comprehensive strategy, to conduct at least 3 public workshops in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency and incorporate peer-reviewed data and models, as specified. The bill would require the state board to update the comprehensive strategy at least once every 5 years. The bill would require the state board to deliver a copy of the comprehensive strategy and any update to the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature and to make recommendations for additional statutory authority to effectuate the goals of the comprehensive strategy.