(January 26, 2006) The California Chamber of Commerce has launched a new coalition to address climate change impacts on California in a reasonable and responsible way and ensure that efforts to reduce California greenhouse gas emissions take into account direct impacts on California jobs, economy and the environment.
“Improving California’s environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to protect California from adverse effects of climate change is everyone’s goal,” said Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce and member of the SEE California coalition (Sustainable Environment and Economy in California). “However, we must ensure that California’s ability to create and retain jobs is not compromised through this process. With this in mind, we encourage the Governor and the Legislature to ensure that any greenhouse gas reduction programs are consistent with the principles of our coalition.”
The coalition will focus its efforts on a number of areas throughout this important process, including providing input at various hearings and analyzing data and analyses released by the Climate Action Team (CAT).
The coalition is focusing efforts on the draft Economic Assessment recently released by the CAT. The draft assessment provides little data or information on the economic assumptions studied for its findings. SEE California also has concerns regarding the model used in the analysis.
In order to allow for proper analysis of the economic study, the coalition is asking for the immediate release of economic assumptions and supporting data from the CAT and an extension of the comment deadline. The comment period is currently scheduled to end on January 31.
The coalition currently includes the California Chamber of Commerce, California Farm Bureau Federation, Western Growers, California Nevada Cement Promotional Council, Western States Petroleum Association, Rubber Manufacturers Association and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
“We look forward to working with the Governor, the Legislature and members of the Climate Action Team to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California by implementing programs that will help California continue to thrive as the sixth largest economy in the world,” concluded Zaremberg.
Staff Contact: Jeanne Cain