At the opening of United Nations World Environment Day today in San Francisco, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called for the state to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 2000 levels by 2010; to 1990 levels by 2020; and to a level 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The Governor signed Executive Order S-3-05 which establishes these GHG targets and charges the California Environmental Protection Agency secretary with the coordination of the oversight of efforts to achieve them.

The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) secretary will coordinate development and implementation of strategies to achieve the GHG reduction targets in conjunction with the secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the secretary of the Department of Food and Agriculture, the secretary of the Resources Agency, the chairperson of the Air Resources Board, the chairperson of the Energy Commission and the president of the Public Utilities Commission.

Technologies that reduce GHG emissions are increasingly in demand in the worldwide marketplace. California companies investing in these technologies are well placed to benefit from this demand. This will boost California’s economy and protect public health and the environment.

—CalEPA Secretary Allan Lloyd

The full text of Executive Order S-3-05 is available here.

The state is being challenged in federal court by automakers over the implementation of AB1493 (the Pavley Bill) that applies regulates CO₂ and other GHG emissions from vehicles beginning in 2009.