The California economy is growing even as the state stays on track to meet the goal set by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, according to a report from the California Air Resources Board that shows emissions falling by 1.5 million metric tons as the GDP grew by 2% in 2013.
Additionally, the carbon intensity of California’s economy, defined as the amount of carbon pollution per million dollars of GDP, is declining as well, dropping 23% from its peak in 2001 as GDP increased by 6.6% during the same period – demonstrating a decoupling of economic growth and carbon pollution.
While transportation remains the largest source of GHG emissions in California and increased by 1%, the report shows that emissions from most other economic sectors declined or remained flat in 2013, with industrial emissions staying static and electric power showing a slight drop. The authors point to a variety of state-specific programs that have helped organizations get closer to reaching the interim reduction goal of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, including the Renewable Portfolio Standard, the Advanced Clean Cars program, the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and California’s cap-and-trade program.
