This map shows the placement of large greenhouse gas emitting facilities with respect to communities of color in California. With the passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) in 2006, California committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the large greenhouse-gas-emitting facilities shown in the map being among the first to be regulated under a proposed cap and trade system.

Aside from the expected global-scale benefits in terms of slowing climate change, cutting greenhouse gasses stemming from these facilities is expected to yield significant health benefits as well, given that they also emit harmful "co-pollutants" such as particular matter, sulfates, and volatile organic compounds. Given existing patterns of environmental injustice in California -- in which communities of color bear disproportionate exposure to unhealthy air -- this map shows where emissions reductions could yield a higher "co-benefit" in terms of reducing disparities by race.

Data Sources: California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, 2000 Census (SF1) and Census Tiger/Line.