Climate change: California governor orders drastic cut in greenhouse gas emissions

Governor wants to reduce carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030

Brown cimentó su carrera política en torno al cambio climático y sus efectos en el mundo (Getty)

California Governor Jerry Brown has issued an executive order for his state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030, a goal he said is “the most aggressive benchmark enacted by any government in North America”.

To achieve such a reduction, California would need to see cutbacks in emissions from industry, agriculture, energy and government, Mr Brown said after announcing the goal, saying the reduction is necessary to combat climate change, the Associated Press reported.

“I've set a very high bar, but it's a bar we must meet,” Governor Brown told a carbon market conference.

Specifics on how California will meet that goal were not given on Wednesday, but those details are expected to be worked out over the next year by the California Air Resourced Board.

“With this bold action by the governor, California extends its leadership role and joins the community of states and nations that are committed to slash carbon pollution through 2030 and beyond,” said Mary Nichols, chair of the ARB.

California is familiar with the effects of greenhouse gas emissions, as it is in the midst of a historic drought that scientists say is partially caused by climate change.

Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.