The Role of Technological Innovation in Meeting California’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets

Rising concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere have already caused perceptible changes in climate and will lead to further climate change in the future (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2001). The impact of climate change in California may be particularly significant in some areas: water resources, agriculture, and sensitive coastal and forest ecosystems (Shaw 2002; Roos 2003; Hayhoe, Cayan et al. 2004). In turn, these impacts could have serious repercussions for the economy and public health of the State, and for California’s agricultural and recreation industries.