State senator pushes for California to reach zero emissions by 2035

State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, announced his new legislative initiatives for a cleaner California during the United Nations Climate Conference, one of which calls on state government operations directly to go carbon neutral.

California already has a goal to meet carbon neutrality for its economy by no later than 2045, based on then-Gov. Jerry Brown’s executive order in 2018. That means all residents and companies in the state would adjust to eco-friendly vehicles, energy options and conservation methods in production.

Becker’s new legislation, which will be introduced in January when the Legislature reconvenes, would push for government operations to get to zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, 10 years earlier than the statewide goal.

“If we are going to ask the entire state to achieve net zero, shouldn’t the government lead by example and show how to get to zero before asking everyone else to do it?” Becker asked in a news release.

Becker’s hope is that this bill could encourage California to kickstart progress by trying out zero-emission operations.

“The state could — and should — lead on these issues by developing clear plans for how the state government will get to net-zero emissions within its own operations by being an early adopter of the necessary technologies that will ultimately be needed by the rest of the state,” Becker said. He also wants to make reforms to “Build Clean Faster” to build up essential, environmentally-friendly projects and infrastructure at a quick pace.

“We cannot let business as usual, with all that red tape, prevent us from doing what must be done,” he said. “It’s time that we stop paying lawyers to fight about these projects and start paying workers to get them built.