On Wednesday, the California Air Resource Board reported that California greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 2.7 percent in 2016.
This brings California’s greenhouse gas emissions for 2016 down to 429.4 million metric tons. This may still seem like a lot, but in context, this is actually quite impressive.
Prior to the release of the report regarding the 2016 emissions, California had set a goal of dropping emissions to under 430 million metric tons by 2020. This means that California has met their goal four years early, and puts the state on track to reduce emissions by 40 percent by 2030.
Impressively, California is still growing their economy. The state has the fifth-largest economy in the world.
The Associated Press reported that California’s economic growth has largely stemmed from the state’s continued emphasis on sustainable energy. California integrated solar electricity and hydroelectricity 33 and 39 percent, respectively, in 2016.
However, gas emissions from automobiles rose the same year, which created a minor setback. Although electric and fuel-efficient cars continue to rise in popularity, consumers are still willing to buy gas-guzzling cars for their daily transportation purposes.
Thus, although President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, which seeks to reduce carbon emissions on a global scale, California is paving the way to continue what the agreement intended. If the state continues to see results, it may inspire other states to follow suit.
Featured Image via PxHere
