Thursday, November 3, 2011

California’s Policy Model to Reduce Oil Use and Vehicle Emissions


Despite having continual governing issues, budget problems and high employment, California has been a leader in developing policy to address climate change. Dan Sperling, discussing California’s leadership in vehicle emissions standards at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace at an event held on Monday, spoke about his joint report with Mary Nichols, titled, “California’s Policy Model for Reducing Oil Use and Emissions from Transportation.”
The report discusses the suite of policies, developed without federal or international mandate, which can serve as a model for other governments. The policies address three areas: vehicles, fuels, and travel demand. Sperling notes that whereas vehicle technology will likely be the largest contributor to reductions in transportation emissions in the developed world, travel demand in China will have the greatest impact on its transportation emissions.
California, having the original, iconic car-oriented lifestyle, adopted vehicle emissions standards as early as the 1960s to reduce air pollution. Since then, the state has been at a unique crossroads allowing the progression of GHG policy.
 

more about CO2 emissions in urban environments:
 
 

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