California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Limit Initiative (2024)
| California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Limit Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 5, 2024 | |
| Topic Energy and Environment | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type State statute | Origin Citizens |
The California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Limit Initiative (#23-0012) was not on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 5, 2024.
The initiative would have required that statewide greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to at least 95% below the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit established pursuant to Section 38550 of the California Health and Safety Code.[1][2]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title would have been as follows:[3]
| “ | Increases state greenhouse gas reduction goals. Initiative statute.[4] | ” |
Petition summary
The summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets would have been as follows:[3]
| “ | Increases state’s target for reduction of statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 95% below 1990 levels by 2045 (instead of 85%). Removes current requirement that state use Cap-and-Trade Program (which sets overall limits and allows producers to buy and sell emissions credits) to achieve 2030 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas production and refining. Instead, requires regulations that achieve the maximum feasible and cost-effective reduction to meet target. Allows local regulators to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from stationary sources (e.g., refineries, factories, power plants) more strictly than the state.[4] | ” |
Fiscal impact
The fiscal impact statement was as follows:[3]
| “ | Increased state costs, totaling billions of dollars annually, to meet new greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Increased local government costs of an unknown magnitude to comply with new regulations adopted as a result of this measure. Potential reduction in various annual state and local government revenues of an uncertain amount depending on how the measure’s implementation impacts the oil and gas sector.[4] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the initiative can be read here.
Path to the ballot
The state process
In California, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 5 percent of the votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election. Petitions are allowed to circulate for 180 days from the date the attorney general prepares the petition language. Signatures need to be certified at least 131 days before the general election. As the verification process can take multiple months, the secretary of state provides suggested deadlines for ballot initiatives.
The requirements to get initiated state statutes certified for the 2024 ballot:
- Signatures: 546,651 were required.
- Deadline: The deadline for signature verification was 131 days before the general election, which was around June 27, 2024. However, the process of verifying signatures can take multiple months and proponents are recommended to file signatures at least two months before the verification deadline.
Signatures are first filed with local election officials, who determine the total number of signatures submitted. If the total number is equal to at least 100 percent of the required signatures, then local election officials perform a random check of signatures submitted in their counties. If the random sample estimates that more than 110 percent of the required number of signatures are valid, the initiative is eligible for the ballot. If the random sample estimates that between 95 and 110 percent of the required number of signatures are valid, a full check of signatures is done to determine the total number of valid signatures. If less than 95 percent are estimated to be valid, the initiative does not make the ballot.
Details about this initiative
- The initiative was filed on July 13, 2023, by Micah Perlin.[2]
- The initiative was cleared for signature gathering on September 18, 2023.[2]
- The sponsors did not submit a sufficient number of signatures by the deadline.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ California Attorney General's Office, "Full text," accessed July 17, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 California Secretary of State's Office, "List of petitions," accessed May 12, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 California Secretary of State, "Initiatives and Referenda Cleared for Circulation," accessed October 20, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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State of California Sacramento (capital) |
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