California approves emissions cut, sidelines Bush

California's state legislature has approved a bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions by sidestepping the Bush administration, which is still opposing tough greenhouse gas controls. The Global Warming Solutions Act, ab 32, expects to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 25 per cent by 2020. In a statement, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said that the state has reached a historic agreement on legislation to combat global warming. The legislators have agreed on a flexible programme that can be altered if it begins to hurt the state economically. The legislation also creates a mandatory emissions reporting system to monitor compliance. While the move has encouraged conservationists, the business community of the state is critical of the new legislation. California is the first government to institute a carbon dioxide cap and trade in the country.

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