Lung Health News, Spring/Summer 2006
The American Lung Association of California and its Health Network for Clean Air are urging lawmakers to implement key recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California. Physicians, nurses and other health professionals joined the association in testifying at hearings, writing letters and signing a petition in support of the Climate Action Team’s plan to meet aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets set by Governor Schwarzenegger last June.
California already has some of the most polluted air in the nation and higher temperatures from global warming are expected to make it worse. The new recommendations include mandatory emissions reporting by all industry sectors so the state can track progress and a public goods charge for transportation to fund key strategies to reduce emissions. Advocates are also calling for a statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions to spur progress toward reduction targets.
