California is leading the way

While the Planktos family lives (for the most part) in California, we have a special connection with British Columbia. About a third of the folks around here hail from Victoria, so imagine my excitement when I saw the following Tyee article about Cambells rumored energy plan, which it is hoped, will largely be based on the California Global Warming Solutions Act

This is yet another reminder that the world is watching California. We need to ensure that the implementation of the California Global Warming Solutions Act sets the standard for future state and provincial (as well as federal we hope soon!) legislation.

Secret Energy Plan: Will Campbell Top Schwarzenegger?
'The Governator' raises the bar, BC pushed to match California global warming targets.

By Tom BarrettPublished: January 9, 2007

TheTyee.ca

Environmentalists are hoping that Premier Gordon Campbell can measure up to a certain former action hero when it comes to fighting climate change.

Climate change campaigners say they've been hearing rumours out of Victoria that the Campbell government intends to announce action on greenhouse gas emissions soon.

Their hopes were raised by a year-end interview with Jeff Rud of the Times-Colonist in which Campbell said B.C. needs to be a leader on climate change. A forthcoming update of the government's energy plan will "deal directly" with the issue, Campbell said.

"I think there's probably a lot of people who are hoping it's going to [contain] some greenhouse gas targets," says Lisa Matthaus, campaigns director for the Sierra Club of B.C. "As good as, if not better than, California has."

Environmental groups see the California standards, signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last fall, as the standard for other jurisdictions to meet. The California Global Warming Solutions Act aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 through market-based mechanisms.