Table of Contents
Silicon Valley Environmental Partnership
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Resource Use
Energy use jumps 20% over 11 years, despite stable per-capita energy consumption
Urban land use expands, but Valley using land more efficiently
Water use, after trending downward, increases to near pre-drought levels
Waste reduction progress is threatened by increases in waste disposal
Population
Population Growth Continues; Three-Quarters Due to Births Outpacing Deaths
Air Quality
Air Quality Has Improved, but Challenges Remain
Ride-Sharing Helping, But Heavy Dependence on Car Continues
Carbon Emissions Increase 19% Since 1986 Due to Transportation
Ozone-Depleting Compounds Phase Out as International Treaty Implemented
Indoor Air Quality Research Needed
Water Quality
Watershed Health In Serious Condition
Drinking Water Meets or Exceeds Standards;
Protection From Contaminants Is Critical
Fuel Leak Cases Drop, But MTBE Shows Up in Water Sources
Species & Habitat
Endangered Species Listings Accelerate
Tidal Marshes Decrease by 84%
Non-Native Species Crowding Out Native Plants and Animals
Clapper Rail Rebounds Thanks to Controls on Non-Native Species
Burrowing Owl Habitat Disappearing in Silicon Valley
Hazardous Materials
Toxic Chemical Releases Edge Upward After Years of Decline
Use of Most Toxic Pesticides Drops 51% in 6 Years (Excluding Residential Use)
Hazardous Waste Generation Increases