California is likely to adopt a more aggressive strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the next five years at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of the state’s air board, which started on Thursday.
The plan’s ambitious goal would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 48% by 2030 when compared to 1990 levels. The state would not construct any new gas plants and would create a fair, multi-agency procedure to transition away from the usage of oil and gas.
“It’s the most ambitious set of climate goals of any jurisdiction in the world, and if adopted, it’ll spur an economic transformation akin to the industrial revolution,” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in a press release.
The California Air Resources Board, the state’s air regulator, predicts that the proposal would reduce air pollution by 71% and fossil fuel use by 86%. In addition, it is anticipated to save $200 billion yearly in health care expenses related to pollution and generate 4 million new employment.
The board is anticipated to adopt this version, which will be the first to take into account natural working areas, which include actively managed farms and forests. These may act as carbon sinks, but certain circumstances, such as escalating wildfires, may increase emissions by releasing greenhouse gases into the sky.
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The largest utility in California and many environmentalists have already stated their support for the plan, but some have expressed scepticism.
Carla Peterman, Pacific Gas and Electric’s executive vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer, said that the board’s plan “allows for a wide range of decarbonization strategies, and will help deliver carbon neutrality through significant economy-wide emissions reductions and carbon removal.”
On her part, Laura Deehan, state director for Environment California said “We’re really thrilled about the opportunity—to get to 100% clean energy much faster—that’s laid out in this plan,” adding that “Our biggest concern is a continued over-reliance on carbon capture technologies that are unproven.”
However, the Center for Progressive Reform, which said in an online post that the plan lacked a “clear implementation strategy,” along with other organizations, criticized the plan for its inclusion of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology, which would begin in 2028.
Story was adapted from Bloomberg Law.
