California and Britain set the agenda.
An excerpt.
Negotiators fine-tune plan on greenhouse gas emissions
With key support on all sides, bill should hit governor's desk soon, Núñez says.
By Judy Lin -- Bee Capitol Bureau Published 12:01 am PDT Saturday, August 12, 2006
Negotiations are intensifying between the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over an ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez said he expects to introduce amendments next week on Assembly Bill 32 -- which would make California the first state to impose pollution caps on industries to combat global warming.
The Democratic leader said in an interview that he intends to address governance and enforcement concerns of environmentalists, business groups and the Schwarzenegger administration to pass the bill by the Aug. 31 close of the legislative session.
"This bill is going to be on the governor's desk," Núñez said.
AB 32 aims to reduce California's global warming emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 -- a 25 percent reduction in carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. Last year, California was the world's 12th-largest producer of greenhouse gases.
The bill has been opposed by an industry coalition. But other business groups, environmentalists and political leaders have rallied behind the bill, raising the likelihood the Republican governor will sign it.
