[JURIST] California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger [official website; JURIST news archive] signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 [text] into law Wednesday, marking the approval of the first US bill designed to restrict greenhouse gas [EPA backgrounder] emissions. Among other provisions, the law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and grants new authority to the California Air Resources Board [official website] to set specific emission targets for various industries. At the signing ceremonies [press release with recorded video] Wednesday, Schwarzenegger reaffirmed his commitment to fighting global warming.

Schwarzenegger had promised to sign the measure to combat global warming [press release] even before the California State Assembly [official website] passed the bill [JURIST report] Sept. 1. Reuters has more.