Governor Schwarzenegger will host representatives from 70 countries at a global climate summit in Los Angeles this week. It happens just as California celebrates the third anniversary of approval of its historic plan to reduce the state’s greenhouse gases. The goal is to lower emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020.
But, some scientists are already looking ahead to 2050. They’ve prepared a new study on what it would take to cut the state’s emissions a total of 80 percent by then. UC Davis environmental science professor Joan Ogden helped prepare the report. She said to meet the 2050 goal California needs federal subsidies to provide incentives for consumers who buy electric cars and alternative fuels.
“If you have a barrier in costs; say you have great, nifty zero emission vehicles, but they cost a bit more. You’ll need help with that," Ogden said. "If you need to work out infrastructure like more hydrogen fueling stations out there, let’s support some of that.”
Ogden said her study focuses only on transportation. She said scientists are preparing other studies on how California industry and utilities can reduce their emissions by 2050.
