Gov. Kate Brown signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that directs state government to significantly cut greenhouse emissions in Oregon.

The governor’s move is in response to Legislature adjourning for the second time on Sunday without having passed a bill with similar goals.

Flanked by students at the Capitol, Brown said that the order would put the state on a path its children could be proud of and was needed urgently to address climate change.

“We are all in this together and if we can make progress on climate change we just might have a world we can pass onto our children,” said Brown.

The order updates and adds more teeth to the state’s existing greenhouse gas reduction goals. It sets a 45% reduction from 1990 levels by 2035 and an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050.

The order directs the Department of Environmental Quality to put caps on emissions from the state’s three largest sources including transportation fuels, natural gas and large industrial polluters. It also doubles the state’s clean fuels program, requires higher efficiency for buildings and appliances while requiring all state agencies to view their actions through a climate change lens. It also requires utilities to ensure that their lines are “fireproofed., and will not be able to start wildfires.

The executive order updates the existing state carbon emissions goals to reflect the current science, setting a standard of 45% reduction from 1990 levels by 2035, and an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. The order also outlines a variety of means to reach the new goals, including:

On Monday, the legislative Emergency Board voted to direct $5 million to the state Department of Environmental Quality to begin drafting rules aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

A statewide program to cap greenhouse gas emissions has been a priority for Democrats who control the governor’s office and lopsided majorities in the Legislature. But previous attempts were stymied after legislative Republicans walked out of the Capitol in the last two sessions, denying lawmakers a quorum to conduct business.

Senate Republican Leader Herman Baertschiger, Jr. has questioned the governor’s move, saying it would open the state to an expensive lawsuit.

On Tuesday, Brown said that her order had been carefully vetted to ensure it was in compliance with state law and constitution.

After a similar bill failed to pass during last year’s legislative session, a coalition of businesses environmental groups and others called Renew Oregon began preparing a greenhouse gas reduction initiative for the 2020 ballot.

Renew Oregon applauded Brown’s move in a statement following her announcement.

Brad Reed, spokesman for Renew Oregon, said that his group is currently considering whether to move forward with its ballot initiatives or withdraw them. He said that it will consider if the ballot initiatives overlap with the governor’s order and if they accomplish the same goals.