"California Seeks To Extend Landmark Climate-Change Effort"

"California's landmark cap-and-trade program to fight climate-changing pollution from fossil fuels would survive long past Gov. Jerry Brown's time in office under a state proposal Tuesday.

The initiative from the state's Air Resources Board is part of a push by Brown's administration to ensure that some of his programs to curb carbon emissions continue after Brown, a prominent figure globally in the fight against climate change, leaves office in two years.

The centerpiece of Brown's campaign has been a cap-and-trade program that aims to reduce the use of fossil fuels by forcing manufacturers and other companies to meet tougher emissions limits, or buy credits to exceed the limits. California's was one of the first governments anywhere to enact a cap-and-trade program, and the state's effort has been one of the most-watched internationally."

Ellen Knickmeyer reports for the Associated Press July 12, 2016.