Carbon Labels Will Arm California and U.S. Consumers in Fight Against Global Warming

The proposed legislation follows California Air Resources Board’s vehicle label mandate, which requires that every new car sold in California must display smog and global warming emissions labels beginning in 2009.

Consumers care about the environment, and have already begun to show that they would respond well to a system like the carbon label. This has been proven by the success of hybrid cars and the rise of more products that tout their environmentally friendly production: recycled paper goods, free range meat and poultry products, and environmentally safe cleaning products.

This program is not a mandate to force companies to label their products. However consumers need a uniform, recognizable system so they can be informed about how they can reduce their impact on the environment, the same way they choose to reduce the impact of the food they eat on their waistline. I believe the companies that choose to participate will benefit, and even be motivated to reduce the carbon impact of their products by reducing excess packaging and other unnecessary waste from their products.

Once a uniform label system is in place it will be easy for consumers to make informed choices about how they contribute to global warming. The people of California have consistently expressed the will to be leaders in reducing global warming. My bill will allow them to take direct action in mitigating their impact on the environment and their effect on global climate change.

No other state or nation currently has a carbon labeling program, although the U.K.’s Carbon Trust has been developing labeling standards for consumer products. “This legislation would make California a world leader in the fight against global warming,” commented Newman.

To read more about carbon labeling, visit www.carbonlabelca.org. The Carbon Labeling Act is based on original research about carbon labeling sponsored by Next Ten, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.

Assemblymember Ira Ruskin chairs the Assembly Budget Sub-Committee on Natural Resources that will oversee the implementation of AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, Proposition 84, the Natural Resources Bond, and Proposition 1E, the Flood Protection Bond. In his first term, Assemblyman Ruskin established himself as a leader on environmental issues as chair of the Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. In keeping with his commitment to the environment, last year he introduced the Clean Car Discount Act of 2007 (AB 493) and the Sustainable Building Act of 2007 (AB 35). These remain ongoing fights.