Subgroup Pages
Other AB 32-Related Websites
Scoping Plan
Fact Sheet on Draft Scoping Plan, released June 26, 2008. (PDF file, 72 kb)
For more on the Draft Scoping Plan, please visit the ARB's website at: www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/document/draftscopingplan.htm
The "Scoping Plan" is California's policy blueprint containing the broad overview of the programs, measures, and approaches that will help California achieve the required reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions required under the Global Warming Solutions Act, or AB 32. The Plan, when it is completed, will have a range of GHG reduction actions, which could include direct regulations, alternative compliance mechanisms, monetary and non-monetary incentives, voluntary actions, and market-based mechanisms such as a cap-and-trade system.
The Scoping Plan is being developed by the California Air Resources Board (ARB), which is being supported by the members of the state's Climate Action Team, or CAT. The ARB has assigned reduction measures to the appropriate CAT members to ensure that the state's top experts are crafting measures in an effective manner.
For information about meetings, draft documents, etc., please visit the ARB's AB 32 Scoping Plan website at www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/scopingplan.htm
The CAT is comprised of 14 state agencies and is divided into 11 subgroups (see graphic below). These subgroups are holding hundreds of meetings and are developing reduction strategies to feed into the Scoping Plan process.
The first draft of the Scoping Plan will be published in June 2008 for public comment. Hearings will be held through July 2008. The final draft is expected to be published in the fall of 2008 for eventual adoption by the ARB by the legal deadline of January 1, 2009.
Scoping Plan Subgroups
(Note: Information is current as of May 2008.)
Agriculture: The Agricultural Subgroup is developing strategies to reduce methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and sequester carbon stored in crops through more responsible tilling of the land. The group has been meeting regularly since August 2007. They met seven times in 2007 and have met six times so far this year. The group generally meets twice a month. In addition to the regular internal meetings they have had two meetings with stakeholders.
Cement: The Cement Subgroup is focused on strategies that will reduce the greenhouse gas emission associated with cement production through looking from cement kiln emissions through concrete usage. The group met five times in 2007 and has met four times so far this year. The group generally meets every other week. In addition to the regular internal meetings they have had five meetings with stakeholders.
Economics: The Economics Subgroup met regularly through October of last year during the development of the Revised Macro-Economics Report. This year the subgroup is working on preparing a report of the economic impacts of doing nothing to respond to climate change.
Energy: The Energy (Electricity and Natural Gas) Subgroup is focused on developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector through increased energy efficiency, better energy conservation, and accelerated renewable energy sources. The group has been meeting regularly since early 2007. They now meet every other week, and have met a total of six times so far this year. In addition to the regular internal meetings they have had five public meetings before the PUC and CEC.
Forestry: The Forestry Subgroup met four times in 2007 and has met six times so far this year (as of May 2008). The group generally meets every other week. In addition to the regular internal meetings they have had three meetings with stakeholders.
Green Buildings: The Green Building Subgroup is developing strategies to promote the use of green energy technologies to further conserve resources and reduce greenhouse gases associated with power production. The group has met four times in 2007 and has met five times so far this year. They have generally been meeting twice a month since mid-January. In addition to the regular internal meetings they've had one meeting with stakeholders.
Land Use: The Land Use Subgroup is developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gases associated with land use planning. The group has been meeting regularly since August of last year. They met a total of 12 times in 2007 and have met eight times so far this year. In addition to these regular meetings, they have had three public meetings. Go to Land Use Subgroup (LUSCAT) page.
Recycling: The Recycling Subgroup is developing strategies to enhance waste diversion and sequestration of methane from landfills. The group has been meeting regularly since August. They met seven times in 2007 and have met three times so far this year. They met twice a month last August and September and have been meeting once a month since then. In addition they have had two public meetings and two public stakeholder meetings.
State Fleet: The State Fleet Subgroup is developing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the state fleet. The group met twice in 2007 and has met once so far this year. In addition to the regular internal meetings they have had one meeting with stakeholders.
Water / Energy: The Water/Energy Subgroup is focused on developing strategies to increase water use efficiency and conservation in order to displace the need for energy to move and treat water in the state. The group met four times in 2007 and has met four times so far this year. They generally meet once a month. They have had about ten public/stakeholder meetings and are planning an additional nine outreach-oriented presentations or meetings this spring and summer.
Scoping Plan & AB 32 Implementation Timeline
The first draft of the Scoping Plan will be published in the summer of 2008 for public comment. The final draft is expected to be published later in the fall for eventual adopted by the legal deadline of January 1, 2009.
CAT members will be assigned reduction measuers in January 2009. Regulatory measures are planned to be adopted by January 2011 with regulations enforceable by January 2012.