California

Government Structure and Role 

Population: 39 million (2023)

GDP: US$3.89 trillion

Geographic area (sq miles/kilometers): 
414,398 km² / 160,000 sq miles 

Major economic sectors: Finance and Insurance; Trade; Transportation; Utilities; Professional and Business Services; Manufacturing; Tourism; Information

Government size – number of employees: 217,485

Governments & Jurisdictions: 58 counties and over 480 cities

Governance on Climate Change 

Key laws and strategies

California is taking an integrated, systems-wide, and unprecedented approach, through a broad range of plans, initiatives, and investments, to tackle the climate crisis. California has two central frameworks for addressing climate change – the Scoping Plan for Carbon Neutrality, which maps out how California will meet its GHG reduction and carbon neutrality goals, and California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy, which outlines how the state is adapting and building resilience to climate impacts already here and intensifying.

California reimagined and overhauled its Climate Adaptation Strategy in 2021 in line with global scientists’ call for unprecedented collective action and to take a more integrated approach that breaks down siloes. The Strategy reflects core elements of sector-based plans to reduce wildfire risks, prepare for sea level rise, and protect communities from extreme heat, drought and flooding and many others. California also recently kicked off its Fifth Climate Change Assessment, which will deliver the best available science to increase on future climate impacts to inform decision-making accordingly. This complements the regular Indicators of Climate Change in California effort which reflects the impacts of climate change that have already occurred throughout the state. 

California has also signed legislation formalizing California’s climate commitments, such as: 

  • AB 1279, which establishes a clear, legally binding, and achievable goal for California to achieve statewide carbon neutrality as soon as possible, and no later than 2045, and ensures an 85% emissions reduction as part of that goal.

  • SB 1020, which creates clean energy targets of 90% by 2035 and 95% by 2040, advancing the state’s trajectory to 100% clean energy by 2045.

  • SB 846, which requires the development of a Clean Energy Reliability Investment Plan, that supports programs and projects that accelerate the deployment of clean energy resources, support demand response, assist ratepayers, and increase energy reliability.

  • SB 905 and SB 1314, which establish a regulatory framework for the safe deployment of carbon removal and carbon capture, utilization and sequestration, while banning its use for the continued production of fossil fuels.

  • AB 1757, which requires the state to develop ambitious climate targets for the natural and working lands sector.

  • AB 1668 and SB 606, which directed the State Water Board to implement a new framework for long-term water conservation and drought planning for water suppliers.

  • SB 1320, which calls for the development of California Climate Change Assessments every five years and defines climate vulnerable communities.SB 306 which codifies and calls for triennial updates to the Extreme Heat Action Plan.

  • SB 306 which codifies and calls for triennial updates to the Extreme Heat Action Plan.

  • AB 2238 which establishes a heat warning and ranking system to improve extreme heat awareness and response

  • AB 1482 and 1384 which requires the California Natural Resources Agency to issue a statewide strategy to adapt to the impacts of climate change every three years, and outlines required content to be included in the strategy, as well as increased communications, outreach, and engagement in preparing and releasing the strategy.

  • SB 337 which codifies the goal of the state to conserve at least 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.

In addition to these plans and laws, Governor Newsom has issued several climate executive orders over his term: 

  • A 2019 executive order that required embedding physical climate risk into state asset decision making. 

  • Issued an executive order in 2020 directing the California Air Resources Board to develop the world's first regulations requiring 100% of new car sales to be ZEVs by 2035. 

  • Issued an executive order calling on state agencies to create a comprehensive water supply strategy in preparation for a hotter, drier future. 

  • In 2020, the Governor issued an executive order directing the state to elevate the role of nature-based solutions in the state’s climate policy and investments.

Internal governance structure

California takes an all of government approach on climate action with all agencies playing an active role. The Climate Action Team, which was established by an Executive Order in 2005, directs the Secretary of CalEPA to coordinate oversight of interagency efforts to meet GHG emissions reduction targets. There are well over 100 people on this interagency team representing about 22 state agencies. Many other state employees are on various other specific interagency or intra-agency resilience or climate working groups, with 10-20 people in more leadership climate resilience-specific positions. Per legislative direction, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the lead on the Scoping Plan. The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) directs CARB to coordinate with other state agencies in the Scoping Plan process, specifically the “board shall consult with all state agencies with jurisdiction over sources of greenhouse gases.” The California Natural Resources Agency, in coordination with the Office of Planning and Research and other agencies, coordinates the regular updates to the State Climate Adaptation Strategy on behalf of California. This was initially called for via an Executive Order in 2008 and is now codified in legislation. See legislation above and overall timeline of California’s Climate Adaptation Policy here.

Recent and Projected Impacts: MCAP Priority Climate Risks

Extreme Heat: Annual temperature increases have already exceeded 1°F over most of California, with some areas exceeding 2°F. The daily maximum average temperature, an indicator of extreme temperature shifts, is expected to rise 4.4°F–5.8°F by mid-century and 5.6°F–8.8°F by late century. The frequency and intensity of heatwaves have risen steadily since 1950, culminating in the record-breaking heatwave of September 2022. Analyses project up to 11,000 premature deaths per year from extreme heat starting in 2050 under a business-as-usual emissions scenario. 

Wildfires: Since 2015, California has experienced wildfires that include 12 of the 20 largest fires, 15 of the 20 most destructive (number of structures destroyed), and 7 of the 20 most deadly, in state history. 2020 and 2021 were the two most destructive wildfire seasons on record with a combined 7 million acres burned. These fires are directly influenced by climate change, including extremes in heat and drought. Although 2022 and 2023 experienced less fire devastation due to cooperative weather and strategic investments in wildfire resilience, the state still grappled with heightened fire activity amid ongoing drought and heat conditions. 

Drought: California has the most variable year-to-year precipitation in the contiguous United States and experiences multi-year wet or dry periods. While future annual precipitation may remain relatively stable on average, droughts will grow more frequent, prolonged, and intense. Despite a brief respite from the 2012-2016 drought due to high precipitation in 2017 and a wet winter in 2019, persistent, record-breaking drought gripped California from 2020 through 2022. This prolonged dry spell led to diminished stream flow, idled farmland, and emergency proclamations across all 58 counties. Thousands of groundwater wells went dry, primarily in the rural, heavily farmed areas of the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys.