Global warming
pollution in California jumped 85% between 1960 and 2001,
according to The Carbon Boom, a new analysis of government data released today
by Environment California. Increased carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the
combustion of oil, primarily for transportation, and natural gas, primarily for
electricity and heating, were responsible for 61% and 38% of this increase,
respectively.
“When you find
yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging,” said
Bernadette Del Chiaro, advocate with Environment California. “To protect future
generations from the effects of global warming and to spur clean energy
solutions, we need to stop this trend of increasing
pollution.”
Existing energy
efficiency and renewable energy technologies could substantially reduce global
warming pollution. In the face of inaction at the federal level in regulating
global warming pollution, California state legislators have introduced a
law that would reverse this trend, bringing pollution reductions within the next
decade. The bill, AB 32 (Nunez/Pavley), would reduce global warming pollution
25% by 2020 through a mandatory statewide cap.
“We owe it to future
generations to combat this pressing issue,” said Assemblymember Fran Pavley
(Agoura Hills), co-author of AB 32. “By investing in renewable energy
technologies and learning to become more energy efficient, California can be on the
forefront in battling global warming.”
Using data compiled
by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environment
California’s new report examines trends in carbon dioxide emissions and fossil
fuel combustion nationally and by state between 1960 and 2001, the most recent
year for which state-by-state data are available. Major findings of the report
include:
- California emitted
198.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960; by 2001, the state’s
emissions had grown to 368.7 million metric tons, an increase of 85%.
- California ranks
third nationwide for the largest overall increase in carbon dioxide emissions
over the four decades. Theses figures do not include emissions from coal fired
power plants located in other states, such as Arizona, and imported into California which add significant levels of
global warming pollution.
- Nationwide,
emissions of carbon dioxide nearly doubled between 1960 and 2001, jumping from
2.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 1960 to almost 5.7 billion metric
tons in 2001, an increase of 95 percent.
- A dramatic growth in
oil combustion in the transportation sector and coal and natural gas combustion
for electricity generation fueled the rapid increase in U.S.
carbon dioxide emissions between 1960 and 2001.
The early effects of
global warming are evident in California and worldwide. According to NASA,
2005 was the warmest year ever recorded. Left unchecked, global warming
threatens to cause serious future water shortages in California as Sierra
snowpack-fed rivers and streams dry up and as sea levels rise, threatening the
coast.
The U.S.
could substantially reduce its global warming pollution by using existing
technologies to make industry, power plants and cars more efficient and increase
the use of clean, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and
biomass.
“This study shows us
that despite public perceptions that we are cleaning up our air, our CO2
emissions are increasing not decreasing,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno (San Francisco), co-author of AB 32 and author of another
solution-oriented bill, AB 2573 which will enable larger, more efficient solar
projects in San
Francisco. “We must take action now in every home, in
every business, and at every level of government to decrease our dependence on
fossil fuels through conservation and expanding renewable
energy.”
In an attempt to reverse the upward trend in global warming
emissions, as quantified in Environment California’s new report, state and
federal policy makers are backing legislation to cap global warming pollution.
AB 32, moving through the California state legislature is supported by
more than two dozen legislators from around the state.
“Bringing global warming to an end should be a moral
imperative, not a political issue,” said Assemblymember John Laird (Santa Cruz), chair of the Assembly Budget
Committee and former chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Climate Change. “Bold action is required, both culturally and
legislatively, in order to build momentum toward stopping global warming—in California.”
“This study shows us that despite public perceptions that we
are cleaning up our air, our CO2 emissions are increasing not decreasing,” said
Assemblyman Mark Leno (San Francisco), co-author of AB 32 and author of another
solution-oriented bill, AB 2573 which will enable larger, more efficient solar
projects in San Francisco. “We must take action now in
every home, in every business, and at every level of government to decrease our
dependence on fossil fuels through conservation and expanding renewable
energy.”
“Debate, delay and denial aren’t solving the problem,” said
Senator Joe Simitian (Palo Alto). “California can and should be leading on the
issue of global warming, that’s why I am a co-author of AB 32.”
In addition, new federal legislation was introduced today by
California Congressman, Henry Waxman (Los Angeles). The bill, entitled the Safe
Climate Act, would require the United States to reduce its global warming
pollution by 15% from today’s levels by 2020 and by 80% by 2050. To
achieve these targets, the bill calls for improved energy efficiency and a
greater reliance on clean, renewable energy sources.
“Environment California’s
report shows state-by-state how the problem has been growing for decades,” said
Congressman Henry Waxman, author of the Safe Climate Act. “Now is the time to
heed the scientists and start healing the climate.”
