Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Berkeley

California has adopted ambitious goals for its transportation systems. The state has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions by 40 percent compared to 1990 levels and by 80 percent by 2050, and has also committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. With transportation a major emitter, substantial changes in transportation vehicles, fuels, operations, and user choices must be achieved to meet these goals. As pressing as climate change goals must be, other goals remain important. California has pledged to maintain its transportation infrastructure in a state of good repair, provide for safe operations, support economic development, meet air quality standards, protect the state’s natural environment, coordinate urban transportation with housing policies, and do so in a way that is equitable for all. This ambitious set of goals places considerable responsibility on transportation planners and decision-makers.