Global Warming News

San Francisco—Environment California released a new study today that outlines key strategies for California to reduce global warming pollution from cars and trucks.  The report comes as the Schwarzenegger administration is developing a much-anticipated plan to reduce global warming emissions statewide by nearly 30 percent by 2020.

“Cars and trucks are California’s Achilles heel in the fight against global warming,” said Jason Barbose, Environment California’s global warming advocate.  “Driving cleaner cars is a critical first step, but helping Californians actually drive less is the only way to get California on track to solving global warming.”

The Environment California report, Getting California on Track, looks at projected increases in global warming pollution from transportation through 2030, and then calculates projected emissions reductions from seven key strategies to reduce pollution.  

The report finds:

o        Currently planned strategies to require cleaner cars and fuels will reduce annual carbon dioxide pollution in the state by 43.8 million tons in 2020, improving to 72.2 million tons by 2030.

o        Aggressively implementing additional strategies – including expanded transit, smarter development and reduced commuting – can reduce annual carbon dioxide pollution by an additional 23.6 million tons in 2020, improving to 42.3 million tons by 2030.

By law, the Schwarzenegger administration’s Air Resources Board is required to develop a detailed plan by then end of 2008 to reduce the state’s global warming pollution by 2020.  The administration faces a key decision in whether to require state and local governments to incorporate global warming emission impacts into all land-use planning and transportation infrastructure decisions.  A draft proposal is expected in June.

“We must allow California’s growing population to live in communities where driving is an option, not a requirement.  The Schwarzenegger administration’s climate plan is a critical test for whether we succeed in reducing pollution here in California,” said Barbose.

To improve local planning, Environment California supports legislation (SB 375, Steinberg) that would help local governments reduce pollution through incentives for more compact development and better transit infrastructure.  “The opportunity to reduce global warming pollution from better land use is tremendous, but AB 32 did not tell us how to achieve these reductions.  SB 375 is a comprehensive approach to incentivizing land use planning that maximizes environmental benefits,” said Amanda Eaken, Land Use Policy Analyst with the Natural Resource Defense Council.

The Bay Area also faces important decisions in how best to reduce congestion and vehicle travel through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Regional Transportation Plan.  “"We have a tremendous opportunity in the Bay Area to push forward with strategies – like walkable neighborhoods and enhanced transit choices – that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion,” said Carli Paine, Transportation Program Director for the Transportation and Land Use Coalition.

In 1990, transportation was responsible for approximately 143 million tons of carbon dioxide pollution annually in California.  If current trends continue, emissions from transportation will climb to approximately 219 million tons by 2002.

Table ES-1. Estimated Annual Emission Reductions from the Strategies, Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide

* Total does not equal the sum of the strategies due to overlap among some of the strategies.