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years.3 Global increases in CO2 concentrations are due primarily to fossil fuel use, with land use change
<br />providing another significant but smaller contribution. Regarding emissions of non-CO2 GHG, these have
<br />also increased significantly since 1990. In particular, studies have concluded that it is very likely that the
<br />observed increase in methane (CH4) concentration is predominantly due to agriculture and fossil fuel
<br />use.4
<br />In August 2007, international climate talks held under the auspices of the United Nations Framework
<br />Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) led to the official recognition by the participating nations that
<br />global emissions of GHG must be reduced. According to the "Ad Hoc Working Group on Further
<br />Commitments of Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol," avoiding the most catastrophic events
<br />forecast by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) would entail
<br />emissions reductions by industrialized countries in the range of 25 to 40 percent below 1990 levels.
<br />Because of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism, which gives industrialized countries
<br />credit for financing emission -reducing projects in developing countries, such an emissions goal in
<br />industrialized countries could ultimately spur efforts to cut emissions in developing countries as well.'
<br />With regard to the adverse effects of global warming, as reported by the Southern California Association
<br />of Governments (SCAG), "Global warming poses a serious threat to the economic well-being, public
<br />health, and natural environment in southern California and beyond. The potential adverse impacts of
<br />global warming include, among others, a reduction in the quantity and quality of water supply, a rise in
<br />sea level, damage to marine and other ecosystems, and an increase in the incidences of infectious
<br />diseases. Over the past few decades, energy intensity of the national and state economy has been
<br />declining due to the shift to a more service -oriented economy. California ranked fifth lowest among the
<br />states in CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption per unit of Gross State Product. However, in terms
<br />of total CO2 emissions, California is second only to Texas in the nation and is the 12th largest source of
<br />climate change emissions in the world, exceeding most nations. The SCAG region, with close to half of
<br />the state's population and economic activities, is also a major contributor to the global warming problem."
<br />GHG Emissions Background. GHG emissions include CO2, CH4, nitrous oxide (N2O),
<br />hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride
<br />(NF3).6 Carbon dioxide is the most abundant GHG. Other GHG emissions are less abundant but have
<br />higher global warming potential than CO2. Thus, emissions of other GHG emissions are frequently
<br />expressed in the equivalent mass of CO2, denoted as CO2e. Forest fires, decomposition, industrial
<br />processes, landfills, and consumption of fossil fuels for power generation, transportation, heating, and
<br />3 C. Le Quere, et al., Global Carbon Budget 2014, (Earth System Science Data, 2015, doi:10.5194/essd-7-
<br />47-2015).
<br />4 USEPA, Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gas, updated June 2015.
<br />5 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Press Release —Vienna UN Conference
<br />Shows Consensus on Key Building Blocks for Effective International Response to Climate Change,
<br />August 31, 2007
<br />6 As defined by California Assembly Bill (AB) 32 and Senate Bill (SB) 104.
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