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newsrel -- New Report Shows California is Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions as Economy Continues to Grow

Posted: 07 Jun 2017 09:30:26
Please consider the following news release from the California
Air Resources Board:
https://arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=933


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 7, 2017

NEWS RELEASE 17-40


CONTACT:

Dave Clegern
(916) 322-2990
dave.clegern@arb.ca.gov


New Report Shows California is Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
as Economy Continues to Grow 


SACRAMENTO — Demonstrating California’s progress toward a
clean-energy economy, the California Air Resources Board today
released the latest statewide inventory of greenhouse gas
emissions, a report showing significant emissions reductions
along with the strongest economic growth since 2005.

“This data shows once again that California’s groundbreaking
greenhouse gas emission-reduction programs are working as
designed,” said Mary D. Nichols, Chair of the California Air
Resources Board (CARB). “These numbers clearly indicate that the
state is on track to achieve its 2020 emission reduction goals
and that California can grow its economy while continuing to
fight climate change.”

The 2015 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, released today by
CARB, found that climate-warming emissions fell by 1.5 million
metric tons (MMT) in 2015 compared with 2014, which is equivalent
to removing 300,000 vehicles from California’s roads for a year.


California, the sixth-largest economy in the world, has advanced
its nation-leading climate goals while also growing the economy.
In the last seven years, California has created 2.3 million new
jobs – outpacing most of the U.S. – cut its unemployment rate in
half, eliminated a $27 billion budget deficit and has seen its
credit rating rise to the highest level in more than a decade. In
2016, California led the nation in job creation for the third
straight year.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) set a target
of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020,
which equals about 431 million metric tons. Last year, the
Governor and the Legislature established a 2030 target of an
additional reduction of 40 percent below 1990 emission levels –
the most ambitious goal in North America. The new data shows that
California is on its way to meet these targets. Since the peak of
489 MMT in 2004, statewide emissions have declined by 10 percent,
with the latest inventory showing emissions of 440 MMT in 2015. 

California’s primary programs for reducing greenhouse gases to
1990 levels are the Renewables Portfolio Standard, the Advanced
Clean Cars Program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the
Cap-and-Trade Program. Additional programs address a variety of
greenhouse gas sources, from cleaning up freight movement to
reducing potent super-pollutants. The continuation of these
programs will be key building blocks in California’s efforts to
achieve its 2030 target.

The 2015 Greenhouse Gas Emission Trends Report released today
also shows that the carbon intensity of the California economy –
the amount of greenhouse gases needed to generate each million
dollars of gross state product (GSP) -- has fallen 33 percent
since its peak in 2001. During the same period, the state’s GSP
has grown by 37 percent.

Emissions from most major economic sectors declined in 2015, with
the exception of transportation, the inventory shows. 

The energy sector saw emissions from both in-state and imported
electricity generation fall by more than 5 percent from 2014
levels. This continues a steady decline in the carbon intensity
of California’s electricity supply that began in 2001. This trend
is likely due to energy efficiency improvements, growth in
renewable energy, and the Cap-and-Trade Program. 

Emissions from industrial sources declined or leveled off.
Refinery emissions dropped by 4 percent in 2015, and, despite a
surge in construction and highway repair, emissions from the
cement sector remained stable in 2015.

Increased fuel consumption in 2015 resulted in a 3 percent
increase in emissions from the transportation sector, which is
the state’s largest source of greenhouse gases with 37 percent of
statewide emissions. As a result of the state’s Low Carbon Fuel
Standard, however, cleaner renewable fuels are continuing to
replace gasoline and diesel fuels.  In 2015 biofuels displaced
more than one billion gallons of gasoline and over 300 million
gallons of diesel fuel.  

CARB is developing a 2030 Scoping Plan to guide greenhouse gas
reductions beyond 2020. In addition to the programs already
mentioned, the Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Strategy, the
Sustainable Communities Program and the Sustainable Freight
Strategy will help the state achieve the 2030 target. The 2030
Scoping Plan lays out how these initiatives will work together to
reduce greenhouse gases and also to reduce smog-causing
pollutants.

All the greenhouse gas emission numbers above are stated in
million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). 
Scientists use carbon dioxide as the benchmark in comparing the
potency of heat-trapping effects among all greenhouse gases. 
Consistent with international and national greenhouse gas
inventory practices, global warming potential in a 100-year
timeframe is used in the inventory.

You can find the 2015 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory data
here: https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/inventory/data/data.htm

The Trends document that examines the current Greenhouse Gas
Inventory from the perspective of previous Greenhouse Gas
Inventories is here:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/inventory/pubs/reports/2000_2015/ghg_inventory_trends_00-15.pdf




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