Net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases: state agency operations.

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. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature that state agencies aim to achieve net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from their operations no later than January 1, 2035, or as soon as feasible thereafter. The bill would require the Department of General Services, in consultation with the state board, and to the extent feasible, to publish, on its internet website or other publicly available location, an inventory of the greenhouse gas emissions of state agencies for the prior calendar year, on or before July 1, 2024, and annually thereafter until the goal has been achieved. The bill would require the department to develop and publish a plan, on or before January 1, 2026, that describes required actions and investments for achieving net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases and an estimate of the costs associated with the planned actions, and ensure that the required actions and investments are incorporated into the sustainability roadmaps of all state agencies. The bill would require the department to update the plan beginning June 30, 2028, and every 2 years thereafter until the goal has been achieved. The bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, would require the department to provide information, training, coordination, best practices, and other technical assistance to state agencies to help those state agencies implement the required actions and investments. The bill would require state agencies to incorporate the required actions and investments into their future budget proposals, as provided. The bill would require the department, beginning December 31, 2027, and biennially thereafter until the achievement of the above stated goal, to report to the Legislature on progress toward achieving that goal, as provided.