It’s New York vs. California in a New Climate Race. Who Will Win?

In this article, the New York Times highlights the climate policies that California and New York are undertaking at the state level, which are among the most ambitious in the world. Both states seek to slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to nearly zero in three decades.

In both states, transportation accounts for the largest share of GHG emissions. In other areas, however, each state will face unique opportunities and challenges. For example, New York's harsher winters may make the replacement of fossil fuel heating more difficult. California has a larger heavy industrial sector, including cement, chemicals, and refining. Reducing emissions in these sectors will call for rapid technological innovations.

By moving forward with ambitious climate policies, California and New York are generating valuable knowledge in two states with different climate and economic patterns. “In some ways, that’s even more important than whether they hit their goals exactly," said Severin Borenstein at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Read the full New York Times article here.