Governor Signs Bill Extending California's Cap And Trade Program

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed legislation extending California's cap and trade program for greenhouse gas emissions through 2030 in a ceremony on San Francisco's Treasure Island.

In a show of bipartisanship, Brown was accompanied by former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who in 2006 signed the first version of the legislation at the same site overlooking San Francisco Bay.

Brown said the cap and trade program, which requires companies to buy permits to release greenhouse gas emissions, set an example that is being followed by other states and countries around the world. He warned that climate change poses a threat to the very existence of humanity.

"The gravity of this topic is so great that it's hard to talk about it, people think you're wacky," Brown said. "If we don't do something about it, it is the end of the world, that's how serious it is."

"You're here witnessing one of the key milestones in turning around this carbonized world into a decarbonized sustainable future," he said.

The legislation passed, after a great deal of wrangling and personal lobbying by Brown, with bipartisan support including eight Republican votes. Schwarzenegger, who has been outspoken on the need to take action on climate change, took the opportunity to chide his fellow Republicans at the national level.

"We have a functional government here in California where Democrats and Republicans work together, and I think this is a very important message for Washington, where both parties cannot work together," he said.

"So I hope they learn something from this."

Schwarzenegger noted that California's strong economic performance also disproved the widely held belief among conservative Republicans that environmental regulations would harm the economy. "Don't those conservative Republicans get the message?" he said.

"Don't they think that maybe we should stop lying to the people? Stop lying to the people! Stop it!"

Despite President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord, Brown and other California leaders have made clear the state's continued commitment to environmental regulations and climate change initiatives.

In September, he plans to bring together world climate leaders in San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit, which is intended to support efforts to fulfill the Paris agreement.

— Bay City News; Image: AP Photo/Eric Risberg

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