California Carbon Challenge

Connecting Californians to Climate Solutions

Next 10 is launching a new, interactive online game called the California Carbon Challenge to engage and inform people who are trying to better understand the challenges and opportunities for reducing emissions.

In 2006, California enacted groundbreaking policies that require the state to reduce its carbon emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Carbon Challenge users are presented with choices to meet this goal, so that they can make the tough calls about addressing the state’s climate challenges virtually.

The policy options included in the Carbon Challenge fall into eight categories: vehicle technologies, driving costs, mass transit, alternatives to driving, green buildings, smart growth, government operations, and energy users and producers. Some of the choices – including time of day electricity pricing, or the requirement that state and local agencies use only Zero Emission Vehicles or plug-in hybrids – are not among the state policies being implemented at this time. Other options, like implementing a carbon trading market, are already underway in California.