USA, California:

California’s Economy is World’s Second Greenest (SF Gate)

The Golden State has the world’s second least carbon-intensive economy

California not only leads the nation in the fight against climate change — in some ways it leads the world. The Golden State has the world’s second least carbon-intensive economy, according to a new study from public policy group Next 10. Only France, with its large fleet of nuclear power plants, emits fewer greenhouse gases for each dollar (or euro) of economic activity.

California has more electric cars than any other state or country, leads the world in clean-technology investment and boasts a fast-growing fleet of renewable power plants.

And according to the report, the state’s economy has continued to grow as its emissions have shrunk. From 1990 through 2012, California’s greenhouse gas emissions shrank by 25 percent per person — largely the result of more efficient homes, appliances and cars — while per capita gross domestic product rose 37 percent.

“I think of California as a model for other countries,” said venture capitalist F. Noel Perry, who founded Next 10. Much of the credit, he said, goes to California policies that emphasize energy efficiency and boost renewable power.

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