The Legacy of AB32

This [unedited] guest post is by a student in my EEP100 class (background post).
Please praise/critique/comment on its economic quality and importance to you.

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Rachel Spiegel says:

Three years ago from September 27th, Arnold Swarzenegger signed into law the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Although I have not been the biggest fan of the Governor, I greatly appreciate the effort this law has created to make a public statement about resource use and pollution curtailment, and, just as crucial, to get the United States (or second-best, California) to recognize its huge contribution to climate change.

At this point, a lot of framework and regulatory standards have been established and will be put into effect next year. Just in time for elections. And a change in governorship could mean the end to the progress made. What concerns me is a recent article from the Modesto Bee, on Republican-contender for governor Meg Whitman declaring that she will suspend AB32 until the "economy recovers".

It is this kind of thinking that will keep environmental policy slow coming. Wait until the economy is better. Until a global environmental consensus is made. Until the private sectors comes up with a perfect solution. Will there ever be a perfect time?

Bottom Line: Keep environmental policy in mind for our gubernatorial elections. It is only through concerns of the citizens will the candidates choose to continue implementing AB32.