Environmental Groups Applaud Historic Global Warming Bill

Sacramento, CA   Today, Governor Gray Davis signed into law groundbreaking environmental legislation to curb global warming pollution from new passenger vehicles in California. Environmental groups throughout California, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Bluewater Network, Coalition for Clean Air, Sierra Club, California League of Conservation Voters, Union of Concerned Scientists, Environmental Defense, Steven and Michele Kirsch Foundation, California Church Impact and others applaud the Governor for his commitment to the environment

“This law is a tremendous victory for everyone who lives and breathes the air in California,” said Ann Notthoff, California advocacy director for NRDC. “The new law will bring more choices of cleaner cars to California consumers, less of the pollution that causes global warming, along with savings at the gas pump.”

The signing of Assembly Bill 1493, authored by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D, Agoura Hills), secures California as a leader in the fight against global warming. The law directs the Air Resources Board to set standards that limit carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants for new cars and light-duty trucks. It is the first such law in the nation.

The bill was the center of an expensive lobbying and public relations campaign by the automakers to spread fear and distortion regarding the effects of emissions on global warming. ?Governor Davis and leaders in the State Legislature are to be applauded for standing up to the automakers,? said V. John White of the Sierra Club. ?It is comforting to know that California lawmakers can see through the lies and scare tactics used by the automakers and take a stand for what is important.?

Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters thanked the Governor for his support, ?The Governor has proven his commitment to clean air, and because of his support, California?s environment will be improved for decades to come.?

The bill gained the support of the Legislature and the governor at the same time the Bush administration was suggesting that Americans should just adapt to global warming.

Russell Long, Executive Director of Bluewater Network, a sponsor of the bill notes that this is an unrealistic and dangerous request.  “While California can’t stop global warming on its own, Mr. Bush’s refusal to act places the burden squarely upon us to continue to lead the nation and the world in reducing dangerous levels of pollution from vehicles.”

Nancy Ryan, Senior Economist at Environmental Defense said that the new law would be a victory for California’s economy and environment. “Cleaning up auto pollution is key to sustainable economic growth in California.  AB 1493 puts California in a leadership role in developing a sustainable and robust 21st century economy.”

The signing of this bill comes on the heels of a June report released by the Bush Administration describing the dangerous and costly effects of global warming.

“The science is in: global warming poses a serious threat to California’s economy and public health, while the technologies to reduce emissions are readily available and would save consumers money,? said Julia Levin, California Policy Coordinator for the Union of Concerned Scientists. ?It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that we should be doing these things anyway.”

Cars and light-duty trucks are responsible for 40 percent of California?s carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, which form a heat-trapping blanket in the atmosphere.  But the technology for reducing these emissions has been available to automakers for some time. ?Cleaner vehicle technologies have been available for years,? said Tim Carmichael, Executive Director of the Coalition for Clean Air ?The standards put into effect by AB 1493 will serve to implement the technologies that scientists and engineers have created for this purpose.  The result will ultimately be more choices for California?s drivers.?

Dozens of environmental and public health organizations throughout California worked tirelessly to gather the support necessary to make the emission reductions a reality. Together they applaud the Governor and the legislature for their support.