Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Carbon dioxide cuts in California will boost economy, Air Resources Board analysis says


(Photo of wind farm near Palm Springs from Flickr and photographer dbking)

News Update: California is leading the country on measures to stem climate change. So it’s encouraging to all of us that a new analysis from the California Air Resources Board says the state’s ground-breaking 2006 global warming law, A.B. 32, will help the state’s economy and generate jobs. The board, CARB, predicts that the law, which mandates cutting greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020, will increase economic development by $27 billion, raise the gross state product by $4 billion, and produce 100,000 jobs, compared with continuing business as usual. Consumers will save an estimated $48 billion by using less energy and will be able to spend that money on other things. New jobs will be in sectors like agriculture, forestry, finance, insurance, real estate and mining, as well as the export of clean technology, the analysis says. Utilities will take a hit and lose about 9,000 jobs, as will the retail gasoline sector as people use less gas. Environmental groups generally approve the analysis, while business groups are skeptical. The GHG cuts are due to go into effect in 2012. The Board will vote in November on its so-called Scoping Plan to carry it out. (Sources: ClimateWire, Christian Science Monitor)

3 comments:

SBVOR said...

Cynthia,

You should read this post (not of my creation).

It is a good summary as to why all your efforts are doing harm to your own movement (in so many ways).

I could say “doing harm to OUR own movement”. But, the difference between us is that I am a rational environmentalist.

SBVOR said...

Click here and review recent evidence of scientists vs. so-called “journalism”.

SBVOR said...

Cynthia,

This link (which may take a relatively long time to download) would make an excellent addition to your classroom curriculum.