Ninth annual California Green Innovation Index finds California clean economy thriving but emissions-reduction challenges loom; transportation sector emissions spike, pose major challenges to state's 2030 climate goals.

This year's California Green Innovation Index continues to track key environmental and economic indicators at the regional, state, and national levels, but with a renewed focus on California's role as a global leader of climate policy and innovation. Despite U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and inaction at the federal level, California remains committed to working with other states, nations, and businesses to continue making progress toward a cleaner economy and more sustainable future.

The report finds that since the 2006 passing of California's landmark climate law AB32, the state's GDP has increased by almost $5,000 per person, nearly double the overall U.S. increase, while per capita emissions from 2006-2015 decreased by 12 percent. Job growth in California also outpaced the U.S. overall by 27 percent over the same period. California also moved up three spots from 2013 to 2014 to become the most energy-productive economy among the top 50 emitters in the world, while also reducing its carbon-intensity by 4.5 percent.

The transportation sector is the largest emitter in the state, accounting for 38.5 percent of total emissions. Despite an overall reduction in GHG emissions of 0.34 percent, transportation-related emissions were up by 2.7 percent in the state between 2014 and 2015. Lower gas prices and increased housing costs have pushed residents farther away from job centers, leading to an increase in commute times of 2.8 percent, while public transportation ridership fell 4.8 percent across the state.

California's focus on expanding renewable energy has also led to employment growth in clean energy sectors in the state. Wind and solar generation accounts for 8.5 jobs for every one job in fossil fuel generation in California, compared to 2.5 jobs for every one in the U.S. overall. California has 300,000 energy efficiency jobs, more than double the next highest ranked state of Texas with 146,000. Lastly, California is the top state for energy storage employment with 28 percent of the national workforce in the sector. These industries will continue to grow over the next century and further fuel economic growth in the state.

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