Why Is State of Illinois Passing New Law on Climate Change?
Gov. JB Pritzker signed House Bill 3481 on Thursday (Aug. 15, 2019), repealing the Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998, which limits state action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
HB 3481 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
In 2001, the United States withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, leaving Illinois tied to goals that the federal government no longer intended to meet. After Illinois codified the protocol in state statute, state government has been restricted in enacting more stringent emissions reduction standards.
“By repealing the Kyoto Protocol Act, we’re sending the signal that Illinois is ready to get serious about climate change,” said Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville. “It’s an outdated law that only served to tie lawmakers’ hands and it never should’ve been passed in the first place.”
Exactly what that means for Illinoisans isn’t clear in the state news release posted Thursday.
Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, called the new law “an important step toward achieving a 100% clean energy future for Illinois.”
Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, said “a majority of the Illinois House and now Illinois Senate supports action on climate change and reducing Illinois’ carbon emissions.”
“This General Assembly along with our pro-climate action governor are set to lead the nation on tackling this issue,” she said.
SOURCE: State of Illinois news release