“Eleven years ago, the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) set the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. California is on track to exceed that target, while the state’s economic growth has continued to outpace the rest of the country. The 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan, approved unanimously by CARB today, sets the state on an ambitious course to reduce climate-changing gases an additional 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 under SB 32. This will require California to double the rate at which it has been cutting climate-changing gases.
Following through on these actions, the plan estimates, could save the state in 2030 as much as $11 billion dollars in avoided environmental damage from carbon pollution in 2030. Costs of California’s 2017 wildfire season so far are now more than $10 billion.
The programs detailed in the Scoping Plan will also improve public health while reducing costs associated with healthcare and natural disasters. These include a projected reduction in premature deaths of 3,300 by 2030. The financial benefit from reduced sick days and hospital stays will be more than $1.2 billion in 2030.”
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