CARB Releases Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

On April 11, 2016, the California Air Resources Board ("CARB") continued its efforts to implement the greenhouse gas emission reductions required by the Global Warming Solutions Act ("AB 32") and related legislation by issuing its Proposed Short-Lived Climate Pollutant ("SLCP") Reduction Strategy (the "Proposed Strategy"). Reducing SLCPs is one of "five pillars" of California's climate strategy, which seeks to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. CARB was directed to prepare the Proposed Strategy pursuant to Senate Bill 605, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Act.
 
According to CARB, SLCPs such as black carbon, methane, and fluorinated gases have a significant impact on climate over the short term. SLCPs are more effective at trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere than the more ubiquitous greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.