California Just Released the World’s First Plan to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Pollution

California just released the World’s first plan to achieve net zero carbon Pollution by taking unprecedented steps to drastically slash pollution and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Source: KSBY News/YouTube

The updated proposal from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) comes after Governor Newsom’s call for more ambitious climate action. The state’s plan would create 4 million new jobs, slash greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent, and cut oil usage by 94 percent.

The proposal is making history as the most ambitious climate action of any jurisdiction in the world, according to a press release. No economy in the world has put forth such a massive, comprehensive roadmap to reach carbon neutrality.

If adopted by CARB, it could be a huge component of Governor Newsom’s California Climate Commitment. The Commitment is a set of actions to build out a 100 percent clean energy grid, achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, ramp up carbon removal and sequestration, protect Californians from harmful oil drilling, and invest $54 billion for an oil-free future.

The updated plan would help achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, cut air Pollution by 72 percent, reduce fossil fuel consumption to less than a tenth of what the state uses today, save Californians $200 billion in health costs due to Pollution, and many more.

“California is drastically cutting our dependence on fossil fuels and cleaning our air – this plan is a comprehensive roadmap to achieve a Pollution-free future,” said Governor Newsom. “It’s the most ambitious set of climate goals of any jurisdiction in the world, and if adopted, it’ll spur an economic transformation akin to the industrial revolution.

According to the press release, the plan would also call for

• At least 20 GW offshore wind capacity built by 2045
• 3 million climate-friendly homes by 2030 and 7 million by 2035
• 6 million heat pumps deployed by 2030
• Carbon removal/capture targets of 20 million metric tons CO2 equivalent (MMTCO2e) by 2030 and 100 MMTCO2e by 2045
• Achieve 20 percent non-combustion in the aviation sector by 2045, with the remaining demand met with sustainable aviation fuel
• Light-duty vehicle miles traveled (VMT) target of 25 percent per capita below 1990 levels by 2030 and 30 percent per capita below 1990 levels by 2045

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