Data Source: California Air Resources Board, California Greenhouse Gas Inventory - by Sector and Activity
Analysis by CEC Economics
Highlights
- California has made tremendous progress reducing its GHG emissions, but there are a few sub-sectors and activities where GHG emissions have risen. From 2008 to 2022, statewide total included GHG emissions decreased by 22.5%, while GHG emissions in these sub-sectors (Figure 14) increased by 16.1% to 496.7% (209.3% composite) during the same period.
- GHG emissions from fuel combustion of biogenic materials (including biofuels and other biogenic energy sources) from on-road transportation have been rapidly increasing, up 278.7% in 2022 compared to 2008. Its emissions rose the most sharply in recent years, jumping by 26.4% year-over-year from 2020 to 2021, then by 19.8% from 2021 to 2022. The rising GHG emissions from fuel combustion of biogenic materials is not necessarily negative because emissions from biogenic materials do not permanently or irreversibly raise the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. These emissions, not accounted for in the included emissions inventory, stem from burning biodiesel, ethanol, and renewable diesel. While these fuel sources do emit some greenhouse gases, it would represent progress if they could replace gasoline combustion.
- Unsurprisingly, emissions from the use of substitutes of SODs increased extremely quickly from 2008 to 2022, rising 148.9% in the commercial sector, 70% in the industrial sector, and 496.7% in the residential sector. Emissions from the commercial retail subsector rose 16.7% and emissions from the industrial solid waste treatment from composting activities increased 70.0% from 2008 to 2022. Increased emissions from composting is not necessarily of concern if the increased emissions prevent or offset emissions from related activities such as landfill.
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