Essay On California's Current Climate Change Regulations
I. PROBLEM DEFINITION
Policy Question: Given California’s current climate change regulations, which policy alternatives can California utilize to satisfy the rising demand for energy as well as meet 2030 emissions reduction goals?
Problem Details and Background:
With a population steadily growing at about 0.9% per year, California has the challenge of meeting energy demands while bringing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions down (PPIC 2013). California emits 359 metric tons of energy related carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere annually and is the second largest polluter behind Texas (EPA 2013). High GHG emissions change the climate, which is identified by rising water and air temperatures along with precipitation changes, sea level rise, and other indicators. These changes lead to the increased occurrence of extreme events such as: droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and floods. Higher temperatures cause more precipitation to fall as rain and less as snow, which for California diminish water reserves in the Sierra snowpack. These water reserves are especially important during times of severe drought, which California is …show more content…
Climate change effects the welfare of society by affecting health, transportation, and infrastructure as well as food, water, and energy supplies. Concerns of environmental justice are also involved, and various groups are effected differently depending on their geographic location, professions, socioeconomic status, etc. As California’s population and economy grow so do energy demands, which facilitates the use of polluting fossil fuels. There is a need to redefine the cost of greenhouse gas emissions by using policy tools such as carbon taxes, trading, and regulation. California needs to determine which energy alternatives can be used to meet its energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas
Policy Question: Given California’s current climate change regulations, which policy alternatives can California utilize to satisfy the rising demand for energy as well as meet 2030 emissions reduction goals?
Problem Details and Background:
With a population steadily growing at about 0.9% per year, California has the challenge of meeting energy demands while bringing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions down (PPIC 2013). California emits 359 metric tons of energy related carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere annually and is the second largest polluter behind Texas (EPA 2013). High GHG emissions change the climate, which is identified by rising water and air temperatures along with precipitation changes, sea level rise, and other indicators. These changes lead to the increased occurrence of extreme events such as: droughts, heat waves, wildfires, and floods. Higher temperatures cause more precipitation to fall as rain and less as snow, which for California diminish water reserves in the Sierra snowpack. These water reserves are especially important during times of severe drought, which California is …show more content…
Climate change effects the welfare of society by affecting health, transportation, and infrastructure as well as food, water, and energy supplies. Concerns of environmental justice are also involved, and various groups are effected differently depending on their geographic location, professions, socioeconomic status, etc. As California’s population and economy grow so do energy demands, which facilitates the use of polluting fossil fuels. There is a need to redefine the cost of greenhouse gas emissions by using policy tools such as carbon taxes, trading, and regulation. California needs to determine which energy alternatives can be used to meet its energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas