CARB news release
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is seeking public comment on a Draft Analysis of Progress toward Achieving the 2030 Dairy and Livestock Sector Methane Emissions Target. The draft Analysis is available on CARB’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutants resources webpage, and members of the public may submit comments via the docket linked below until 5:00 p.m. on July 14, 2021. CARB developed this Analysis in accordance with Senate Bill (SB) 1383 (Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016), which requires CARB to conduct an analysis on the progress the dairy and livestock sector has made toward overcoming barriers to achieving the 2030 methane emissions target of forty percent below 2013 levels.
Background
Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, are powerful climate forcers that have relatively short atmospheric lifetimes but high global warming potentials. SB 1383 codified targets for multiple SLCPs, including a target for the dairy and livestock sector to reduce its methane emissions by up to 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. SB 1383 also requires CARB, in consultation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, to analyze the progress that the sector has made toward achieving the 2030 methane emissions reductions target, including progress made in overcoming technical and market barriers to implementing methane emissions reductions practices identified in the Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Strategy. On May 21, 2020, CARB staff hosted a public webinar to discuss the proposed plan to develop the Analysis including identification of potential data sources and information gaps. Following the webinar, an informal comment period allowed stakeholders to submit written comments and additional information for consideration. CARB staff reviewed and incorporated the comments into the Draft Analysis as appropriate.