California lawmakers extend carbon emissions climate law

July 18 (UPI) -- The California State Legislature extended the state's premier cap-and-trade climate change program in a bipartisan effort that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Assembly Bill 398 was approved Monday night and now heads to California Gov. Jerry Brown's desk for a signature.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, the cap-and-trade program that limits carbon emissions and requires polluters to acquire permits for each ton of carbon they release, will now run through 2030.

Brown hailed the bill's passage after both chambers of the California Legislature approved the measure. The California governor had directly urged lawmakers to approve the extension for days prior to the vote.

"Tonight, California stood tall and once again, boldly confronted the existential threat of our time. Republicans and Democrats set aside their differences, came together and took courageous action. That's what good government looks like," Brown said in a statement.

The California program is the only one of its kind in the United States and is considered an international model by using regulatory financial pressure to encourage carbon-releasing industries to reduce emissions, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The bill passed in the California Legislature's Assembly with a 55 to 21 vote and the Senate with a 28 to 12 vote. Seven Republicans in the Assembly broke party lines and joined

One Republican in the Senate broke party lines and joined 48 Democrats to pass the bill, while one Republican joined 27 Democrats in the Senate.