California Governor Jerry Brown and other political leaders have pledged to advance the state's landmark climate change laws and fend off challenges from opponents such as oil companies. Brown and other top lawmakers were speaking at a press conference hosted by Tom Steyer, a major Democratic donor who has wielded his financial clout to urge action on climate change.

California has alread set targets to reduce GHG emissions but discussions on expanding the program and setting new goals have begun. Senate leader Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), who announced legislation requiring the state's public pension funds to divest from coal, said "We are hard at work . . . to make sure we move forward with next steps."

Read more in the LA Times.