Plain English Breakdown
The official summary mentions 'specified entities' collaborating with the Natural Resources Agency, but their names are not listed in this excerpt.
AB-491: Climate Goals for Natural and Working Lands
This law sets state goals to reduce greenhouse gases by using natural lands, requires new targets for specific years, updates the statewide climate plan, and changes a key definition.
What This Bill Does
- Requires the Natural Resources Agency to set ambitious target ranges for storing carbon in nature and other nature-based solutions for the years 2030, 2038, and 2045.
- Makes it a state goal to meet these targets by their specific dates.
- Prioritizes activities that quickly increase carbon storage, protect ecosystems, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way.
- Requires the new natural land targets to be added to the statewide climate scoping plan and other state policies.
- Updates the official definition of 'natural carbon sequestration' for these specific rules.
Who It Names or Affects
- The Natural Resources Agency
- The State Air Resources Board
Terms To Know
- Natural carbon sequestration
- A term defined by this bill for the purpose of setting climate targets, though the specific new definition text is not provided in the summary.
- Scoping plan
- A state document that outlines strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and must be updated at least every 5 years.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill sets a goal for the targets but does not specify exact funding amounts.
- The specific details of how 'natural carbon sequestration' is redefined are not included in this summary text.
- The effective date of the law is not listed in the provided source material.