The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) recently evaluated the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) 2022 Scoping Plan Update, which outlines the state’s plan for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The report can be found here: Assessing California’s Climate Policies—The 2022 Scoping Plan Update. The Scoping Plan Update aims to achieve a 48% reduction in GHG emissions below the 1990 level by 2030 and at least an 85% reduction by 2045. However, the LAO’s assessment found that the plan lacks a clear strategy for meeting the 2030 GHG goals, as it does not specify the specific policies it will implement to achieve these reductions. The report provides recommendations for legislative next steps.
Specifically, the LAO recommended that the California legislature should work with CARB to develop a more detailed plan that outlines specific policies and measures to achieve the 2030 GHG reduction goals. Additionally, the report suggested that the legislature should consider providing oversight to ensure that the plan is effectively implemented and that the state is on track to meet its GHG reduction targets.