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Archive for california air resources

Head Start Towards 2020: California Reduces CO2 Emissions for Third Year in a Row

Comparison of California carbon emissions by sector from 2008-2011California’s CO2 emissions fell in 2011 for the third straight year, putting the state in a good position for meeting its target of reducing carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARP) and as mandated by California AB32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006). Since businesses began reporting data in 2008, emissions have steadily declined from 133,4 million tons to 111million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, shedding a full 22 percent in 2011.

Electricity production, once the leading sector for CO2 emissions in the state, made the biggest inroad towards reduction targets by cutting emissions 17.5 million ton between since 2008. Emissions from electricity generation was 34.9 million tons in 2011. Read More→

Cap-and-Trade a Reality in California

The first cap-and-trade carbon credit auction under California's Global Solutions Act  is deemed a successThe concept of a cap-and-trade CO2 throttling system is not new, or without widespread support.  However it has been slow to catch on with the Federal government, and slightly faster with state governments. The system is widely used in Europe, as are many global warming driven initiatives.

There is no price for the right to pollute in the U.S., except now for California.  The system was created by California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).  The GWSA sets greenhouse gas reduction goals by 2020 using several measures including a cap-and-trade system.  It promises to limit emissions from refineries, power plants, industrial facilities and transportation.  The 2020 goals were set to begin phasing in by 2011, and set greenhouse gas emissions levels back to those found in 1990.

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The Best and the Worst Environmental News of 2010

The best and worst environmental stories of 2010Here is a quick review of some of the best and the worst environmental stories of 2010.

BEST:

Mass Production of Electric Cars

Cars and trucks are responsible for a quarter of US carbon emissions. However, this year, both Chevrolet and Nissan were amongst a slew of car makers who launched electric vehicles. Even SUVs, crossovers, luxury cars, station wagons and hatchbacks are getting more efficient.

Social Media Activism Working for the Environment

Social media efforts succeed in pushing Nestle to reduce its palm oil deforestation footprint. Although the campaign against Nestle’s palm oil deforestation footprint began with Greenpeace, it quickly became an online grassroots movement that Nestle could not afford to ignore.

Progress at COP16

The Cancun Agreement reached at the UNFCCC talks in Cancun, Mexico put the multilateral process back on track toward a global climate framework. Some 26 individual agreements were reached in Cancun, including advances in the mechanism for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). The accord compensates developing countries for forest protection and peatland restoration. The Cancun Agreement also saw progress on a climate finance mechanism and technology transfer to help developing economies.

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