TODAY’S STUDY: WORLD’S OLD ENERGY SUBSIDIES DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE

2013 California Green Innovation Index

March 19, 2013 (Next 10)

Index at a Glance

The Carbon Economy

California Ranks Among the Most Efficient and Least Carbon Intensive Economies in the World, Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions While Still Increasing Economic Output.

GHG Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions in California continued to fall from their 2008 peak to 451.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2010, a 1.4 percent drop from 2009 and seven percent decrease in the last five years.

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Carbon Economy

California continues to move towards a carbon free economy with a 2.3 percent decrease in emissions per dollar of GDP from 2009 to 2010.

GDP & Emissions

Emissions per capita maintained their downward trend in 2010, dropping two percent from 2009 while GDP increased 0.3 percent over the same period, highlighting California’s progress in becoming more carbon efficient while increasing economic output.

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VMT & Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and vehicle miles traveled (VMt) per person both declined over the last five years, though from 2009 to 2010 VMt per capita increased by 0.3 percent while emissions decreased by about one percent.

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Energy Efficiency

California Pioneered Energy Policies that Have Spurred Large Improvements in Energy Efficiency. The State Has Achieved this Improvement While Growing the Economy and Lowering Energy Bills for Consumers.

Energy Productivity

Energy productivity measures the GDP produced (output) for each unit of energy consumed (input). California created 1.7 times as much economic activity as the rest of the U.S. with the same amount of energy in 2010, a three percent improvement in the past five years.

Energy Consumption

California’s energy consumption per person has decreased substantially over the long term, falling nine percent in the last five years alone. California achieved a 24 percent reduction since 1970, compared to a three percent reduction in the rest of the U.S.

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Renewable Energy

California Continues To Surpass Previous Year Records and Install More Renewable Energy Systems.

New Solar Installations

California installed a record level of solar power in 2012, with over three times more new solar installations compared to 2008.

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Renewables

Renewable electricity generation reached new levels with 14.5 percent of total electricity generation in 2011, three times the percentage of the U.S. as a whole. California eenewable electricity has increased 3.8 percentage points in the last five years.

Clean Technology Innovation

California Continues to Lead Clean Technology Innovation, with its Companies Receiving the Most Investment and Patents in the Nation and World. Despite the Recent Decrease in Venture Capital, the Clean Technology Sector has Been Resilient and New Investors and Financing Types Have Emerged.

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Cleantech VC

Clean technology venture capital declined in 2012, though investment in California declined less than the U.S. or World since 2008 and remains above pre-2008 levels.

Employment in the Core Clean Economy

California’s Policies, Investments, and Consumer Habits are Driving Growth in the Clean Economy, Creating Jobs in Businesses that Keep the State on the Leading Edge of a More Efficient and Competitive Economy.

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Employment Growth

Jobs in California’s Core Clean Economy had a stronger recovery than the California economy as a whole from the recent economic crisis, with a 2.8 percent increase in employment compared to 2.3 percent decrease in the total employment between January 2008 and January 2011. The total economy rebounded recently, up two percent since January 2010, while the Core Clean Economy increased about one percent.

Clean Technology Innovation

California leads the nation in clean technology patent registrations, achieving the highest or second highest amount compared to other states in all segments. California registered twice as many clean technology patents compared to five years ago.

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California’s Past and Future

Innovation Driving California’s Clean Economy

California is known for being at the forefront of innovation, spurring change in industries of all shapes and sizes. the clean technology sector is no exception, with California leading the way in technology and policy breakthroughs in energy efficiency, clean transportation, and renewable energy. By growing its clean technology economy, California demonstrates that economic prosperity and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive concepts. the California Green Innovation Index provides data that show economic growth can be achieved while protecting our limited natural resources and that California’s clean economy is diversifying and advancing. California’s clean technology sector has shown resilience even during the recent recession, with continued innovation and deployment of products and services while becoming more diverse and mature. innovation in clean technology, a key component to growing the sector, is a shared responsibility and results from the interactions among government, the private sector, and individuals. as one breakthrough triggers another, momentum grows, and the innovation process advances.

Government adopts new policies, which create an environment that encourages both private sector and individual innovation. at the same time, government policy is influenced by the emergence of new technologies, products, and business practices in the marketplace. Elected officials also advance policy innovations in response to growing concerns from the public.

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Private sector businesses respond to government standards and incentives as well as global market forces (like the price of oil). Businesses pursue innovations to meet emerging industry and consumer demand for more sustainable products and practices. these innovations not only help advance the bottom line, but also create jobs, help inform policy, and change individual behavior by offering tangible clean technology products. the private sector also includes a diverse mix of nonprofit groups that promote changes in government policy, business practices, and individual behaviors.

Individuals not only respond to government incentives and the availability of new products, but also influence the direction of policy through the political process. they also generate demand for more sustainable products in the marketplace.the progress made in California’s clean technology sector shows that a clean economy is not just about a single technology, company, or policy. as the following sections will show, new investors are emerging, private sector businesses are maturing, technologies are advancing, and policies are driving the state forward.

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Policy Timeline

For decades, California has been a national and global leader in innovative environmental and energy policy. Since 1947, California has implemented policies and programs that have been replicated in other states and used as a model for federal legislation. Responding to the energy crisis in the 1970s, California adopted groundbreaking building and appliance standards. California continues to build upon these landmark policies today. the policy innovations documented in the timeline are the product of combined efforts by public leaders, business leaders, grassroots organizations, and voters…

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