This paper examines California’s GHG reductions between 2007 (when
the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) took effect), to 2017, when
the California Air Resources Board adopted the most recent “Scoping Plan”
prescribing existing and proposed new GHG reduction mandates (Scoping Plan)
that CARB deems required to achieve the state’s legislated mandate of reducing
GHG 40% below the state’s 1990 GHG emission inventory by 2030, and the
unlegislated Executive Orders issued by the current and prior governor directing
the state to achieve an 80% reduction in GHG by 2050.
This paper also examines the performance of California’s economy as experienced
by California residents, which presents a substantially different story
than the aggregated statewide data used by CARB to conclude the state is enjoying
a successful boom. In fact, California has the nation’s highest poverty rate, and
by far the largest number of Americans living in poverty: about 8 million Californians Californians,
and more than 2 million children, live below the federal poverty level.
California also has the nation’s highest homeless rate, and again by far the largest
number of homeless Americans, including more than a quarter of a million families,
children, and adults. California’s largest city, Los Angeles, counted more
than 50,000 homeless individuals in 2017. California has a low unemployment rate,
but extraordinarily high costs for basic necessities, including housing, electricity
and transportation. For decades, California has also declined to authorize new
housing construction, and experts as well as political candidates now concede that
California now has a shortfall of about 3 million homes.