As years go, 2016 was a good one for California.

The state’s gross domestic product rose by 2.9 percent, outpacing the national average for the sixth consecutive year and pushing the state into the sixth slot for largest economies in the world. Since then, California’s economic growth has continued its climb, recently outpacing the United Kingdom to become the fifth largest GDP in the world.

And it did so while going green.

According to data released this week by the California Air Resources Board , California hit a major milestone in its fight against climate change ahead of schedule. The data show that, in 2016, the state’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped 2.7%, reaching levels last seen in 1990. It was a target set during former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration that the state had hoped to hit in 2020.

The success is largely attributed to recent efforts to promote renewable energy in the state, such as regulations that require utility companies get one-third of their electricity from solar, wind, or other renewable resources.

The milestone gives the state a head start in meeting its next two lofty climate goals. Currently, the state’s 2030 target would require cutting its current emissions levels in half, from 429.4 to to 258.6 million metric tons. From there, the target moves even steeper, to a total of 82.2 million metric tons by 2050.