With 2016 Looming, Jerry Brown to Sign ‘Landmark’ Climate Change Deal

California Gov. Jerry Brown is to sign a “landmark climate change agreement” in Sacramento Tuesday, his office announced Monday. The surprise move comes just days after potential Democratic presidential contender Sen. Elizabeth Warren delivered a stirring address to the California Democrats Convention. Though Hillary Clinton is still the Democrats’ presumptive nominee for 2016, Brown’s surprise move could indicate a strong interest in remaining on the short list.

In a statement, Brown’s office announced:

Last month, Governor Brown issued an executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Since taking office, Governor Brown has forged international agreements to combat climate change with leaders from Mexico, China, North America, Japan, Israel and Peru and also issued a groundbreaking call to action with hundreds of world-renowned researchers and scientists – called the consensus statement.

In his inaugural address earlier this year, Governor Brown announced that within the next 15 years, California will increase from one-third to 50 percent our electricity derived from renewable sources; reduce today’s petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent; double the efficiency savings from existing buildings and make heating fuels cleaner; reduce the release of methane, black carbon and other potent pollutants across industries; and manage farm and rangelands, forests and wetlands so they can store carbon. The impacts of climate change are already being felt in California and will disproportionately impact the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Brown recently told NBC News’ Chuck Todd on Meet the Press that he would definitely consider running for president were he ten years younger–and then proceeded to lay out a three-point presidential agenda. One of those points was climate change, which Brown said was “very important”–and where Democrats have been disappointed by the lack of progress under President Barack Obama.

Brown himself has faced criticism from environmentalists for failing to ban fracking.