California Announces New International Methane Reduction Initiative

Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new Subnational Methane Action Initiative at Climate Week in New York City. The initiative will recruit subnational governments worldwide to commit to mitigating and reducing methane. Seven jurisdictions have signed on.

Founding partisans in this initiative are:

• California

• Queretaro, Mexico

• Gauteng, South Africa

• Espirito Santo, Brazil

• Cross River State, Nigeria

• Yucatan, Mexico

• Delhi, India

Other partners in the effort include the Climate Group, which convenes subnational governments for climate action through the Under2 Coalition, and the UC Berkeley Center for Law, Energy, and Environment, which will work with state agencies and Initiative members to create action plans, track progress, organize regular peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and share best practices.

California has taken action to reduce methane emissions. In 2016, the state enacted SB 1383, which directed the California Air Resources Board to take steps to reduce methane emissions by 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030.