Proposed Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy

policies will virtually eliminate black carbon emissions from on-road diesel engines
within 10 years. These policies are based on existing technologies, which could be
deployed throughout the U.S. and the world.
With the large reduction in emissions of black carbon from vehicles, other sources of
black carbon emissions will become more significant contributors to the State’s black
carbon inventory over time. In particular, without additional actions, off-road mobile, fuel
combustion in the industrial and power sectors, and woodstoves and fireplaces will
account for more than three-quarters of anthropogenic black carbon emissions in
California in 2030. However, black carbon emissions from these sources have declined
significantly as well, by almost 30 percent since 2000. Continued progress on these
sectors—transitioning to cleaner and more efficient uses of energy, reducing emissions
from woodstoves and fireplaces, taking steps to
meet federal health-based air quality standards by
2031, and developing and implementing a
sustainable freight system—will continue to reduce
black carbon emissions and should allow us to meet
the targets established in this Proposed Strategy.
The State’s 2016 Mobile Source Strategy, 2030
Target Scoping Plan Update, and Sustainable
Freight Action Plan, a multi-agency effort to deploy a
sustainable and efficient system for goods movement, will build on these measures to
reduce black carbon. Additionally, ARB will work with local air districts to further reduce
particulate matter and black carbon emissions from woodstoves and fireplaces.
Governor Brown’s 2016-17 proposed budget includes $40 million to reduce black
carbon from woodsmoke.
The largest source of black carbon emissions in California is, by far, wildfire. An
average wildfire season contributes two-thirds of current black carbon emissions in
California. As climate change accelerates, our drought-ravaged forests will only
become more vulnerable to wildfire and disease. Indeed, many of California’s forests
are already in a perilous condition and require accelerated management and investment
to protect them. Several Federal, State, and local agencies are currently coordinating
on forest planning, pursuant to Governor Brown’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency
on Tree Mortality and through other forums.
This Proposed Strategy focuses on actions to reduce wildfire risk and black carbon
emissions by increasing the rate of fuel reduction to improve forest health, aligning
financial incentives with beneficial uses of woody waste, supporting management efforts
and market development through research, and integrating state planning efforts. The
State's Forest Carbon Plan and the 2030 Target Scoping Plan Update will identify
additional goals and measures to improve forest health. Goals and actions identified in
the 2030 Target Scoping Plan Update and Forest Carbon Plan will include those related
to forest carbon storage, which is beyond the scope of this Proposed Strategy. State
agencies are coordinating to ensure that the goals and recommendations in each of
6 April 11, 2016