California leads the way in green thinking

As you may have seen, we’ve opened a west coast office in Los Angeles. It’s a great locale for not only the scenery but for the opportunities it presents and the mindset of Californians. You get the sense from being out here that most understand the necessity of promoting climate change and improving the use of our resources for the betterment of our society and planet.

Now, thanks to a survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, we have hard numbers to back up the feeling we have. More residents favor climate change policy, want to cut greenhouse gas emissions and believe they are already experiencing the effects of global warming.

Over 2500 Californians were polled and what was found was an educated population who saw what needed to be done and had varying ways of achieving it. Nearly 80% favored government regulation on the release of greenhouse gases from power plants, cars and factories. That 80% were split between a cap and trade system and a simple carbon tax.

66% saw air pollution as a big problem, with half finding the pollution in low income areas serious. Over two-thirds of respondents think global warming is negatively affecting the economy and 60% think they’ve already seen the effects global warming has on our environment.

Despite the excellent forward thinking, there is still room to improve. 70% said they commute to work by driving alone with 12% carpooling and still less, eight percent, taking public transportation. It’s safe to say that to realize the results they’re looking for, these bad habits will need to be changed.

Adjustments are also needed in government, both at the local and federal level, with the Sierra Club of California saying President Obama has promised much but delivered less, and Gov. Brown being handcuffed with budgetary problems.

Regardless of where fault lies, it’s promising to see a state as large and powerful as California understanding what the problem is, what needs to be done and how to get there. We’re looking forward to the positive impact we, and our neighbors will have in our time here.