California unveils plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045
California unveils plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045
By Matt Spetalnick
November 19, 2018 at 2:26 PM
by Matt Spetalnick
California unveiled a plan that could dramatically impact the climate. The state has declared it will go carbon neutral by 2045, using a combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency. California is already the world’s most populous state and home of Silicon Valley. The state’s economy has relied heavily on fossil fuels, including transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and electricity. And one of the world’s deadliest disasters in history has left thousands dead.
California’s Clean Energy Crisis
The state of California has an energy crisis. Its economy is largely dependent on fossil fuels, accounting for nearly 70% of its gross domestic product. And it has the most polluted air in the world. As the state struggles to meet its ambitious climate plan, its largest source of power is having a serious impact on its climate.
The state needs to come up with a plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2045, which would require it to cut its greenhouse gas emissions dramatically. But if California doesn’t, it could soon face a much more dire threat.
The plan is designed to be a model for other nations. It includes a plan for climate resilience, which would help the state plan for things like storm and flood risks. The plan also seeks to reduce pollution from the electricity sector, which is responsible for roughly 15% of California’s emissions.
The plan’s chief sponsor, California’s Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, called the plan a “tipping point for a better future.” He said it would “dramatically alter the way California deals with its future and our past.”
The state hopes to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, which is a long-term goal that, as far as we know, is not possible without drastically cutting electricity emissions and transitioning to renewable power.
In addition to the state’s electricity sector, it also plans to use renewable