California’s Climate Spending Surpassed $900 Million in First Half of 2019: CARB

California’s Climate Investments initiative has grown to include over 20 state agencies involved in the development and implementation of 60 programs focused on reducing climate pollution, according to an Aug. 26 press release from the Air Resource Board.

The program funded $914 million in projects during the first six months of this year, compared to $1.4 billion for all of 2018 and $720 million in 2017. New projects were implemented in the areas of transportation, agriculture, and other sectors that cut climate pollution and improve air quality in communities. More than 60 percent of investments now go toward projects that benefit low-income and environmentally disadvantaged communities.

The agency underscored that the initiative is paving the way for nearly 70 forest-health and wildfire-prevention projects, in the aftermath of two of the state’s worst fire seasons on record.

The projects implemented through 2018 are expected to reduce emissions by nearly 37 million metric tons, equivalent to 4 billion gallons of diesel fuel use.

The statewide initiative invests billions of dollars in cap-and-trade auction proceeds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen the economy, and improve public health and the environment.