SACRAMENTO - Air Resources Board Chairman Mary D. Nichols released the following statement on Governor Jerry Brown’s announced 2030 target for an additional 40 percent reduction in California’s greenhouse gas emissions:

“With this bold action by the Governor California extends its leadership role and joins the community of states and nations that are committed to slash carbon pollution through 2030 and beyond. Building on our existing climate programs, the 40 percent reduction will drive and accelerate innovation, generate new jobs, improve air quality and hasten California's transition to a clean energy economy."

The 2030 target represents reductions needed to ensure California can achieve its larger 2050 target of a reduction of greenhouse gases 80 percent below 1990 levels. The need for these reductions is supported by the latest science on climate change.

Greenhouse gases are the primary cause of manmade global warming. Global warming is already having dramatic impacts in California in the form of reduced snowpack, more intense drought, increased wildfire intensity and sea level rise.

The Governor’s announcement can be found here: http://gov.ca.gov/home.php

Frequently asked questions and answers on the 2030 Carbon Target and Climate Adaption can be found here: http://bit.ly/1InJQas