The amount of planet-warming gases Californians released in 2020 was 9% less than the previous year, but experts say it was due only to COVID-19 restrictions
Officials at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach recorded an unprecedented surge in harmful emissions during 2021. They blame COVID-19.
“We do track wildfire emissions on an annual basis, but they are not part of the GHG Inventory ... which tracks emissions from fossil fuels and high-global warming potential gases such as methane and HFC refrigerants,” said CARB spokesperson David Clegern. Since it started in 2000, the annual estimate of statewide greenhouse gas emissions has been viewed as an important metric in tracking the state’s progress toward its climate goals. However, state officials said 2020 was an anomalous year, and that they expected to see an increase when they calculated the 2021 inventory.
“This year will be looked at as an outlier and cannot be used as a reliable data point to predict trends for the years to come,” said Steven Cliff, executive officer at CARB. “It also made clear however, that as we build back we must continue with the actions that we know will reduce greenhouse gases and clean the air and our hardest hit communities, including deployment of renewable energy and zero emission cars and trucks on our roadways and highways.