CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Resolution
No. 36

Introduced by Senator Cortese
(Coauthors: Senators Arregu n, Gonzalez, Grayson, Hurtado, Rubio, and Wahab)

April 01, 2025

Relative to the Paris Accords.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SR 36, as introduced, Cortese.
WHEREAS, California has long been a global leader in climate action, setting ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and transition to a clean energy economy; and
WHEREAS, Humanity has an obligation to future generations to restore and maintain a safe and stable climate that ensures long-term survival and prosperity; and
WHEREAS, California is already experiencing the devastating effects of climate change, including record-breaking heat waves, drought, wildfires, extreme weather, and rising sea levels, all of which threaten public health, safety, and economic stability; and
WHEREAS, The Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Paris Accords), adopted in 2015 by nearly every nation, aims to prevent average global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and
WHEREAS, The Paris Accords established the objective of stabilizing GHG concentrations at levels that prevent dangerous interference with the climate system, yet global emissions continue to rise at an alarming rate; and
WHEREAS, The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Accords under our federal administration threatens national and global climate progress, but through the United States Climate Alliance, the Governor of California and 23 other governors are upholding the goals of the agreement; and
WHEREAS, California remains steadfast in its commitment to reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030 and 61% to 66% by 2035, aligning with the United States’ nationally determined contribution under the Paris Accords; and
WHEREAS, California has taken proactive steps to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy, including by achieving its 2020 emission reduction targets four years early, returning to 1990 emission levels, by mandating 100% clean electricity by 2045, and by aggressively expanding solar, wind, and battery storage capacity; and
WHEREAS, California has reduced vehicle emissions and is increasing investment in public transit, electrified transportation, and high-speed rail, and has led the nation in zero-emission vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployment; and
WHEREAS, California has advanced climate adaptation strategies, wildfire prevention and water conservation initiatives, established statewide and regional carbon markets to drive emissions reductions across key sectors, and committed billions of dollars in funding for climate resilience, clean technology jobs, and frontline community protections; and
WHEREAS, Achieving these goals will drive the creation of high-quality clean energy jobs, expand access to sustainable workforce training programs, and strengthen economic resilience, particularly for communities disproportionately affected by pollution, environmental injustice, and economic disinvestment; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate formally affirms California’s leadership on climate action and California’s commitment to the Paris Accords, environmental sustainability, and to combating climate change by adopting climate restoration, net-zero, and net-negative carbon dioxide emissions as state climate policy priorities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the State Air Resources Board, the Governor of California, the President of the United States, the United States Secretary of State, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.