California
With a Democratic state government trifecta, California has made significant progress on climate action and has long been a leader in climate policy.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Gavin Newsom (D)
House: 60 (D, supermajority) ǀ 19 (R) ǀ 1 (I)
Senate: 31 (D, supermajority) ǀ 9 (R)
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2030:
40%
By 2045:
Net Zero
All targets relative to 1990 levels
2018 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Other
Source: EIA State Energy Data System (SEDS)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
40% by 2030 | net-zero by 2045 Relative to 1990 levels
Mandate Source
Mandatory – SB-32 – Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Interagency Commissions/Task Forces
Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies
Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies
Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee
State Climate Portal
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 2 out of 2 points**
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 2 points.
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
Definition
“Disadvantaged communities” are defined as the top 25% scoring areas from CalEnviroScreen, which includes areas burdened by combinations of poverty, high unemployment, air and water pollution, presence of hazardous wastes, and/or high incidence of asthma and heart disease, as well as all Tribal lands.
Include race? No | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? Yes
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
AB 1550 – at least 25% to disadvantaged communities and 10% to low-income communities, individuals, and households
EJ Bureaucracy
EJ Advisory Bodies
Environmental Justice Advisory Committee
EJ Government Staff
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 10 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 4 out of 6*
Grid and Utility Reform
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 1st
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 2 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Buildings & Efficiency
Energy Codes and Standards
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Stretch or Reach Codes
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
Efficiency Programs and Financing
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 3 out of 4*
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 8 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Market Mechanisms
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Transportation
Vehicle Standards
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
Incentives and Market Mechanisms
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Agriculture
Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance
Financial Incentives
SB 129 (2021) – Healthy Soils Program
Technical Assistance and Education Programs
SB 129 (2021) – Healthy Soils Program
Food Waste Bans and Targets
Mandate Source
Target or Ban
Food Waste Reduction Target – 50% by 2020 | 75% by 2025
Relative to 2014 levels