Oregon Governor Enacts GHG Emissions Target

On August 6, 2007, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed House Bill 3543, which sets greenhouse gas emissions targets for the state. HB 3543 directs the state to stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010 and to reduce GHG emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and to 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The bill creates the Oregon Global Warming Commission to recommend to state and local governments ways to reduce GHG emissions and measures the state may adopt to mitigate the impacts of global warming. By March of every other year, starting in 2009, the Commission is to submit to the Legislative Assembly a report of the state’s progress towards its GHG emissions reduction goal. HB 3543 creates the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute, which is charged to facilitate research by Oregon University System faculty on climate change and its effects. The bill allocates $180,000 to the Climate Change Research Institute.

HB 3543
Map of States with Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets
Map of States with Active Climate Commissions and Advisory Groups