In the face of an inexcusable lack of action on the part of the federal government, the onus of reducing global warming emissions has fallen on the individual states. California is leading the way, first by requiring auto emission reductions, and now by requiring industry to lower emissions 25% by 2020. An emissions trading market will assist in that endeavor.

The bill was was negotiated between the Democratic-controlled Assembly and Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, further cementing his credentials as one of the rare Republicans who act as responsible stewards of the environment. Not all Republicans were so sanguine: “This bill is the road to economic ruin for California,” screamed Chicken Little Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth.

Whatever. California has always led the way in instituting public policy reforms that are later adopted throughout the rest of the country. Its example is already being heeded in some measure by many other states. California’s insistence on auto emissions caps and refusing to enter long-term contracts with out-of-state utility companies who don’t reduce emissions will also have incidental benefits for other states, as companies are more likely to adopt a uniform stricter standard than to keep a patchwork of products by state.

Keep up the great work, California..the rest of the country will eventually heed you, despite Congress’s inane inaction.

Tags: california, emissions, environment, global-warming, schwarzenegger