31 July 2018
State of California, Fujitsu Advance Climate Action
Solar Farm, US. Credit: American Public Power Association
story highlights

While the WMO reported record heat for the month of July in the northern hemisphere, California’s 2016 GHG emissions measured below 1990 levels, and overall emissions fell by 13% since 2004.

Fujitsu, Japan’s largest IT company, joined more than 130 major businesses in the RE100 initiative, working to increase demand for and delivery of renewable energy.

26 July 2018: In recent news regarding efforts to address climate change, the US state of California and the global technology company Fujitsu advanced climate action, while the 2018 trend of extreme weather extended into July. California announced that it has met one of its climate goals early, with the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2016 measuring less than the amount emitted in 1990, a target California committed to meet by 2020 under its climate change law. Halfway around the world, Fujitsu committed to 100% renewable electricity by 2050.

The state of California met its GHG emission goal ahead of schedule, according to the California Air Resources Board. According to the state’s annual emissions inventory from 2016, emissions in the electricity sector fell by 18%, as solar electricity, including rooftop generation, increased by 33%, while natural gas fell more than 15%. In addition, power from out-of-state hydroelectric dams rose by 39% due to significant rainfall. California law requires utility companies to get half of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

California law requires utility companies to get half of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

California’s overall emissions have fallen by 13% since 2004, and the state aims to cut emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Industrial sector emissions fell 2% from 2015 levels; per capita emissions fell 23%; carbon pollution dropped 3% between 2015 and 2016; and the “carbon intensity” of California’s economy fell 38% since the 2001 peak.

The latest data are from 2016 as verification and validation of emission reports takes more than a year, and additional data require vetting by other government agencies. [GCAS Press Release on California] [State of California Press Release] [California GHG Emission Inventory]

Fujitsu has committed to 100% renewable electricity by 2050, with an interim target of 40% by 2030. Fujitsu, Japan’s largest information technology (IT) company, joins more than 130 major businesses in the RE100 initiative, which is led by The Climate Group, in partnership with CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project). RE100 brings together companies that are committed to 100% renewable electricity, and are working to increase demand for and delivery of renewable energy. [GCAS Press Release on Fujitsu] [The Climate Group Press Release] [Fujitsu Climate and Energy Vision] [RE100 Website]

News from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) highlighted the need for the action that both California and Fujitsu announced, with WMO reporting record heat for the month of July, including temperatures reaching 41°C near Tokyo, Japan, 51.3°C in Algeria’s Sahara Desert, 42.6°C near Muscat, Oman, and 52°C in Death Valley, California, US. The WMO highlights heatwaves, drought, “disastrous” precipitation and “devastating” wildfires in the northern hemisphere, leading to negative impacts on health, agriculture, ecosystems and infrastructure. [WMO Press Release]

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