California’s Proposition 23
The Green Market Oracle
On November 2nd, 2010, Californians will vote on Proposition 23, theballot initiative that would suspend the state’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32).
AB 32 was signed into law byGovernor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger on September 27, 2006. Thebill establishes a timetable to bring California into near compliancewith the provisions of the Kyoto Protocol.
If passed, Prop 23would put on hold a state renewable energy target, a market for rightsto trade greenhouse gases and many other steps adopted under the state’s AB 32 climate change law. Put simply, the passage of Prop 23 wouldeliminate green jobs and increase pollution.
Supporters of Prop23 have received contributions that top $9 million, led by oil companies including Tesoro Corp, Valero Energy Corp and Koch Industries’ FlintHills Resources. These funds have been successfully influenced voters to support proposition 23.
According to a poll released today,Californians are leaning against ballot Prop 23 to suspend the state’slandmark climate change law. The Public Policy Institute of Californiapoll found 48 percent of likely voters oppose Proposition 23 and 37percent support it. However, 15 percent of those asked did not know.
California leads the America with its green initiatives. The defeat of prop 23would be a major defeat for America’s green effort. Although the pollslook favorable the undecided voters in combination with widespreadfrustration make the outcome less than certain. The anti-incumbent moodsweeping across the nation, it imperiling important environmental policy initiatives.
If Big Oil funded Prop 23 succeeds in repealingCalifornia’s Global Warming Solutions Act, it will put aside a majorbipartisan achievement. California’s AB 23 in is all the more remarkable in light of Republican obstructionism in Washington and legislativegridlock.
If the proposition passes, it would destroy much of the state’s green business industries, if it is defeated, California willbe a model that other states will follow.
Richard Matthews is a consultant, eco-entrepreneur, sustainable investor and writer. He is the owner of THE GREEN MARKET, one of the Web’s most comprehensive resources on the business of the environment. He is also the author of numerous articles on sustainable positioning, green investing, enviro-politics and eco-economics.
Source
Richard Matthews is a consultant, sustainable investor, writer and owner of The Green Market Oracle, a leading sustainable business blog that covers the convergence of sustainable capitalism and the global environment.The Green Market is one of the most comprehensive resources for information and tools on sustainability. Follow The Green Market's twitter feed and see the Facebook Fan Page.
Richard is a contributor to more than 50 publications. Find him on Facebook and Linkedin.