In 2020, 59% of California’s total electricity generation came from non-fossil fuel sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear power. 34.5% of the state’s retail electricity sales were served by Renewable Portfolio Standard-eligible sources such as solar and wind. The Renewable Portfolio Standard requires that California’s electricity comes from 60% carbon-free resources by 2030 and 100% by 2045. We are on track to meet these targets.

Path to 100% Clean Electricity

This decrease in emissions is equivalent to approximately 14 million cars off the road for one year. Electric power emissions have decreased as renewable generation continues to replace fossil power. From 2019 to 2020, California experienced 10% growth in in-state solar generation and cleaner imported electricity incentivized by our state’s clean energy policies.

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Over the last 40 years, California’s appliance and building energy efficiency standards have saved consumers over $100 billion. Improved technology has allowed consumers to use less energy, saving them money, for the same quality of service. Energy efficiency can also reduce the need for new electricity generation.

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Many climate strategies California is implementing will improve public health and reduce health inequities. California’s 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan estimated that our climate strategies would prevent over 5,600 premature deaths in 2045, along with many other avoided health consequences such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. This is equivalent to an annual value of at least $200 billion in avoided health impacts, including $61 billion in disadvantaged communities. 

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and State Water Board provide hundreds of millions of dollars for drought relief. Through the small community and urban/multi-benefit grants, DWR has distributed $406 million since 2021 in direct financial assistance to communities who need it most. This money goes towards drought relief projects, addressing water supply challenges, and helping build local resilience. In addition, from July 2021 to December 2022, the State Water Board funded 58 drought resiliency projects (totaling $396 million).

Climate change is causing warmer average temperature, increased evaporation, and a greater share of rain and snowfall being taken up by dry soils and thirsty plants. California is taking action to offset the loss of water by bringing our groundwater basins into balance, restoring river systems, improving water management, and investing billions to secure the future of California’s water supply. Check out California’s Water Supply Strategy – Adapting to a Hotter, Drier Future for more.

Over the past two years, California has committed $8 billion to ensure water security for Californians through projects that help store, recycle, de-salt and conserve water in light of the increasing pace of climate change.

Governor Newsom Announces Water Strategy For a Hotter, Drier California

• Water Conservation Regulations
• Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
• Water Conservation and Production Reports
• Volumetric Annual Report of Wastewater and Recycled Water
• Water Boards Recycled Water Policy and Regulations
• AB 2108: Water policy: environmental justice: disadvantaged and tribal communities

Compared to a 1975 passenger vehicle, today’s cars are over 99 percent cleaner. Cleaner cars mean cleaner air. A 2017 Air Resources Board study shows that the cancer risk from exposure to the state’s most significant air toxics declined 76 percent over a 23-year period in California, a direct result of regulations targeting unhealthful emissions from these air pollutants. Diesel particulate matter, which is emitted mainly from trucks and buses and is responsible for most of the airborne cancer risk in California, declined 68 percent, as a result of the State’s regulatory efforts to clean up diesel exhaust. 

Meeting the California Transportation Plan’s 2050 goal for increased walking, cycling, rolling, and transit use will help reduce dependency on driving and support healthy active lifestyles. The increase in transport-related physical activity will significantly reduce chronic diseases and prevent 102,642 years of life lost to disease, disability, and death in 2050 (compared to “business as usual”). This includes preventing 7,838 early deaths annually, while also helping to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions.

Of all the measures in the State Implementation Plan (California’s blueprint for meeting federal air quality standards), the Heavy-Duty Omnibus Rulemaking is expected to provide the most Oxides of nitrogen, or NOx, emission benefits – 24 tons per day in 2031 for California-only standards. This will result in roughly 3,900 avoided premature deaths and 3,150 avoided hospitalizations statewide over the life of the rule. The rule will also have total statewide health benefits of approximately $36.8 billion.

Low NOx Fact Sheet

The projected temperature increase depends on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Heat causes the most weather-related deaths in the United States. In addition to increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and deaths, periods of extremely high temperatures worsen air quality, stress vegetation, threaten livestock health, increase agricultural and urban water demand, and strain the electric power supply. 

Extreme Heat Events

The California Blueprint invests:

• $800 million toward extreme heat resilience 
• $2.7 billion toward wildfire resilience 
• $346 million to protect against the health risks of carbon pollution 
• $1.5 billion for electric school buses to cut pollution at our kids’ schools 
• $13.8 billion to build clean and accessible public transportation 
• $1.4 billion to restore our natural lands, which can help fight climate change by sequestering carbon 
• $1.1 billion to farmers who are on the frontlines of extreme weather
• $281 million to train 25,000 new community health workers on a variety of topics, including climate health

Reports

• Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) Impact Report
• California Climate Investments Annual Report 

Regulations

• SB 1137: Protects communities against oil drilling
• AB 2238: Will create the nation’s first extreme heat advance warning and ranking system to better prepare communities ahead of heat waves
• AB 1384: Resiliency Through Adaptation, Economic Vitality, and Equity Act of 2022
• SB 246: Established the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP)
• AB 2800: Requires all state agencies to consider current and future impacts of climate change in all aspects of infrastructure planning, investment, and maintenance
• Executive Order N-19-19: Calls for embedding physical climate risk into state asset decision making, for state-owned infrastructure, transportation investments, and investment portfolios.
• Executive Order N-82-20: Directs the state to accelerate nature-based climate solutions that build resilience and contribute to carbon neutrality.
• SB 1: Requires sea-level rise be addressed within the coastal zone
• AB 9 – Community wildfire preparedness and mitigation

In 2020, 59% of California’s total electricity generation came from non-fossil fuel sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear power. 34.5% of the state’s retail electricity sales were served by Renewables Portfolio Standard-eligible sources such as solar and wind. The Renewable Portfolio Standard requires that California’s electricity comes from 60% carbon-free resources by 2030 and 100% by 2045. We are on track to meet these targets. 

Path to 100% Clean Electricity

Clean energy jobs in California employ nearly six times more workers than fossil fuel jobs. The clean energy workforce employs nearly 10,000 rural Californians. Clean energy jobs also support small businesses – small businesses employ almost 60 percent of clean energy workers in the state (E2).

California is expanding energy storage to allow more solar and wind power into the grid. Because wind power is generated only when the wind blows, and solar energy is reduced on cloudy days, technologies that can store and supply extra power are becoming increasingly important. Energy storage benefits includes providing a steady generation of clean power, lower energy costs, and reduced climate-warming emissions.

Thanks in part to California’s efficiency standards, the state’s per capita energy use has stayed nearly flat since the early 1970s, even as the state’s economy grew by 80 percent. Today, Californians use 31 percent less energy compared to the average American.

Building Energy Efficiency Standards Summary 

• $140 million to support long duration energy storage projects in the 2022 – 2023 budget
• Clean Transportation Program
• Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC)

• SB 1020: creates clean electricity targets of 90% by 2035 and 95% by 2040
• Appliance Efficiency Regulations
• Building Energy Efficiency Standards  
• Power Source Disclosure
• Renewables Portfolio Standard

This $10.1 billion ZEV package builds on Governor Newsom’s first-in-the-nation action to shift the automotive industry entirely to all electric by 2035, utilizing California’s market dominance to accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles across the world and dramatically reduce the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. Electric vehicles have become one of the state’s top exports, and California represents half of the United States’ ZEV market. These actions are tackling the single largest culprit of pollution in California – the tailpipe.

Learn More about ZEVs

California leads the nation in support for low-income EV consumers. As of May 2023, over 100,000 rebates had been given to low-income consumers under the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, and an additional 12,000 consumers utilized the Clean Cars 4 All program to replace their car with a clean vehicle. The Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project funded over 11,000 vehicles, with 60 percent in pollution-burdened communities.

Clean Vehicle Incentives

Although California’s per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT) is roughly the same as it was in 2001, total VMT has risen by about 15%.  We are far above the level needed to meet the state’s climate goals. Caltrans is working to provide access to destinations while reducing the number and length of motor vehicle trips required.

Rethinking How We Build So Californians Can Drive Less

Since its inception, the Active Transportation Program has funded over 800 active transportation projects across the state benefiting both urban and rural areas. More than 400 of the funded projects are Safe Routes to Schools projects and programs that encourage a healthy and active lifestyle throughout students’ lives. In addition, every cycle has seen more than 85% of funds going towards projects that will benefit disadvantaged communities throughout the state.

Active Transportation Program

Budget:

• $10 billion ZEV package 
• $15 billion for transportation infrastructure plan (page 119)

California Climate Investments 

Clean Vehicle Incentives

ZEV Funding Resources

Plans

• Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure
• California Transportation Plan
• 2020 Mobile Source Strategy
• ZEV Market Development Strategy
• Equity and Engagement Implementation Plan
• California State Bike and Pedestrian Plan
• California Sustainable Freight Action Plan
• ZEV Infrastructure Investment Plan

Regulations

• Advanced Clean Cars II
• Advanced Clean Fleets
• Advanced Clean Cars 
• Advanced Clean Trucks Regulation (ACT) 
• Innovative Clean Transit
• Low Carbon Fuel Standard
• Clean Miles Standard

Agriculture is California’s most water-dependent industry. We have reduced on-farm water use by 14 percent from levels present in 1990, while increasing food production by 38 percent. Water use efficiency is in part on how farmers and ranchers are adapting. SWEEP has made grant awards to 1,111 projects covering 168,000 acres. $123.5 million has been awarded to date, with more than $70.5 million in matching funds. CDFA received $50 million in 2021. Of that, $10.8 million was awarded to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers, while $4.5 million was invested in projects that benefit Priority Populations. 

22.1 million metric tons of carbon pollution will be sequestered over the lifespan of the Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP) and the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP). Over the last seven years, California has invested more than $264 million in Climate Smart Agricultural programs that focus on the dairy sector. This has resulted in more than 233 projects that will achieve a reduction in CO₂ emissions of more than 2.3 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. 

BUDGET

• $643.85M has been invested in CDFA’s Climate-Smart programs, which include the Healthy Soils Program (HSP), Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), Dairy Digester Research & Development Program (DDRDP), State Water Efficiency & Enhancement Program (SWEEP), Pollinators Habitat Program (PHP), and Conservation Agriculture Planning Grants Program (CAPGP).
• HSP – $125M to improve California’s soil health to function as a living system.
• LIVESTOCK METHANE REDUCTION PROGRAMS – $321for improving the dairy industry and other livestock methane reduction practices that result in long-term emissions reductions and maximize environmental benefits.
• SWEEP – $137.5M to provide financial incentives for agricultural operations to invest in irrigation systems that save water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• PHP – $15M to prioritize and encourage biodiversity plans using locally appropriate native plant seed mixes when feasible.
• CAPGP – $17M to develop plans to help farmers and ranchers identify actions for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

• Farmer and Rancher Led Climate Solution – CDFA – OEFI – Climate – Farmer and Rancher-led Climate Change Solutions Report (ca.gov)
• Farm to School Roadmap – CDFA Office of Farm to Fork – CA Farm to School Program
• Farmer Equity Plan – 2020 Report to the Calfornia Legislature on the Farmer Equity Act

CAL FIRE and its grant recipients have conducted fuels treatment and fire prevention work on more than 110,900 acres in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which exceeds its 2025 100,000-acre goal ahead of schedule. Additional data continues to be reported to and validated by CAL FIRE.

Read the Press Release

The Wildfire Resilience Program has already committed $1.1 billion and has launched more than 930 projects, which includes the CAL FIRE projects and funding. Many of these projects finished within a few months of receiving funding. 

A $2.7 billion investment to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and protect our forests. These projects include forest thinning, prescribed burns, grazing, reforestation, and fuel breaks:

• $482 million to enhance wildfire resilience by thinning forests, replanting trees, expanding grazing, and utilizing prescribed fire
• $100 million to help recover critical watersheds burned in
  catastrophic wildfires
• $382 million for CAL FIRE and the CCC to complete strategic fuel breaks projects
• $44 million to “harden” homes and communities against wildfire ignitions
• $400 million on an ongoing basis to improve the health and wellness of CAL FIRE firefighters

2022 – 2023 Emergency Response Budget

Wildfire Resilience Budget Report

• AB 1757: Requires state to develop an achievable carbon removal target for natural and working lands
• Forest and Wildfire Resilience Task Force Action Plan
• 2020 Shared Stewardship Agreement between California and US Forest Service
• Executive Order N-8-22: Supports communities recovering from wildfires
• Executive Order N-24-21: Supports schools impacted by wildfire
• Executive Order N-05-19: Community Wildfire Prevention & Mitigation Report