Press Release
New research identifies California's greenhouse gas problems
SACRAMENTO October 31, 2006 7:15pm
• Report examines causes of global warming
• Provides a baseline for future research
The California Energy Commission has released a new draft staff report that provides estimates of the state's greenhouse gas emissions over a 15-year period.
The report provides policy makers and researchers with the sources of emissions that could dramatically alter the climate and landscape of California, the commission says.
"This latest report provides us with a good baseline to measure future reductions in the gases that contribute to global warming," says B.B. Blevins, Energy Commission executive director.
"This inventory will be invaluable in working to ensure that emissions are reduced to 1990 levels by 2020.”
In 2004, California produced 492 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, including emissions associated with imported electricity. The emissions include carbon dioxide (CO2) methane, nitrous oxide, and assorted high global warming potential gases.
Due to increasing population and economic growth, total gross greenhouse gas emissions still rose 14.3 percent from 1990 to 2004, the commission says.
In 2004, CO2 emissions represented 84 percent of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, 81 percent of all CO2 emissions were produced by burning fossil fuels. The largest sector was transportation – which included gasoline and jet fuel consumption – at 40.7 percent; electricity generation (22.2 percent); industrial (20.5 percent); agriculture and forestry (8.3 percent); and other (8.3 percent) rounded out the equation.
Statistics were derived from the United States Energy Information Administration and data collected by the Energy Commission.
Access the report at: www.climatechange.ca.gov/policies/greenhouse_gas_inventory/
