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California Voted To Approve Plan For Carbon Neutrality Roadmap By 2045
(CTN NEWS) – SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California air regulators approved a plan Thursday to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by changing energy, transportation, and agriculture practices.
But critics say it doesn’t go far enough to tackle climate change.
The state will remove as much carbon from the environment as it emits by 2045, according to the proposal. It intends to reduce fossil fuel demand by 86% by 2050.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation making carbon neutrality a mandate this year. He says California needs substantial adjustments to become a climate leader.
State air regulators planned to vote on a plan Thursday that cuts carbon emissions in California by changing practices in the energy, transportation and agriculture sectors, but critics say it doesn't go far enough to combat climate change. https://t.co/OGOGoVdwvl
— KPIX 5 (@KPIXtv) December 16, 2022
Newsom: “We’re making history in California”
The plan was criticized before board approval. Capturing and storing substantial amounts of carbon underground is contentious.
Critics believe it encourages the state’s biggest emitters to do less to combat climate change.
Activists, residents, and specialists weighed in on the plan in a several-hour discussion before the board vote.
Many thought the latest version, while not perfect, was an improvement from past iterations, pledging the state to limit planet-warming emissions.
Board member Davina Hurt is glad the state is heading toward carbon neutrality.
Hurt praised the plan’s boldness and aggression.
The plan does not commit the state to specific actions but outlines how California can achieve its goals. Below are the Highlights:
RENAISSANCE
Plan implementation depends on the state’s ability to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy. It plans for reducing liquid fuel usage by 94% by 2045 and quadrupling solar and wind capacity.
New residential and commercial buildings will be powered by electric appliances by 2020.
The calls to reduce oil and gas use comes as public officials struggle to avoid blackouts during record-breaking heat waves.
CARB approves the 2022 #ScopingPlan shifting California away from #fossilfuels & towards #renewableenergy. The final plan cuts #airpollution by 71%, reduces #GHGs 85% & reaches #carbonneutrality by 2045.
➡️ https://t.co/rZ7SoktUfr pic.twitter.com/JQELpphyif
— CARB (@AirResources) December 16, 2022
At Thursday’s meeting, CARB Chair Liane Randolph called the latest plan the most ambitious yet. This year’s public feedback prompted improvements.
Randolph: “Achieving carbon neutrality means using all tools to minimize emissions and store carbon.”
TRANSPORTATION
Officials think phasing out gas-powered automobiles and trucks would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health.
In a July letter to the air board, Newsom sought dramatic cuts to aviation emissions to join other transportation sector reductions as the state transitions to zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035.
10% of aviation fuel needs must come from electric or hydrogen sources by 2045, and all medium-duty vehicles must be zero-emission by 2040. The board has already banned the sale of new gasoline-only cars in the state by 2035.
CAPTURING CARBON
The state strategy calls carbon capture an “essential tool” for mitigating climate change. The state must collect 100 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2045.
Environmental justice attorney Connie Cho hailed the initiative as “a significant step forward” to reduce climate change and protect public health.
Our communities have suffered from chronic disease and died at disproportionate rates for too long due to environmental racism, Cho added.
Cho questioned its carbon capture targets, saying they allow refineries to pollute while the state decreases emissions elsewhere.
AGRICULTURE
By 2045, farm methane emissions must be reduced by 66%. Cattle release methane, a planet-warming gas.
Implementing the strategy would reduce agriculture’s dependency on fossil fuels.
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