Unlocking California's Climate Ambition

California has achieved seemingly unreachable climate goals ahead of schedule in the past. It can now achieve its ambitious goal of economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2045, if swift, coordinated action is taken to set the energy sector up for success. By doing so, the state can continue to be a trailblazer, creating the industries of the future while improving safety, energy security, reliability, affordability, air quality, and public health.

Critical and urgent changes are needed for how California plans, executes, and funds the transition to achieve its ambition of carbon neutrality. Issues with the current energy planning paradigm are solvable, but a transition from the status quo is necessary to ensure long-term affordability, economic and environmental benefits. There will be no showstopper or “one-size-fits-all” solution to the challenge of decarbonization, meaning that a willingness to adopt novel and diverse approaches will be crucial. California can unlock these benefits of decarbonization for communities, the environment, and the economy, but the action must start now.

This study presents key insights derived in collaboration with California’s large, Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) and in consultation with state agencies, ratepayer representatives, and NGOs on identifying, quantifying, and addressing barriers to the state’s climate goals.

Download report one-pager

Download the full report