PCL E-Mail Blast Archive, 2008 -

TELL THE CALIFORNIA AIR BOARD TO RAISE THE BAR FOR LAND USE REFORM IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING!   Two weeks ago, we reported that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was considering strengthening its commitment to land use reform as part of the Scoping Plan for AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. However, CARB has been getting pushback from a group of conservative local governments and developers. The CARB board members will vote on the Scoping Plan later this week. Will they give in to political pressure or will they strengthen California's commitment to fight global warming by curtailing sprawl?   They need to hear from you!   The AB 32 Scoping Plan lays out how California will reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. At a hearing on the Scoping Plan in late November, the CARB Board members asked their staff to explore a higher emission reduction target for the land use sector. A low target means that California will pursue essentially "business as usual" development patterns. A higher target means that growth will be directed in ways that cut greenhouse gas emissions by lowering vehicle miles traveled, increasing opportunities for walking and biking, and making transit accessible for more people.   The Board members meet on Thursday morning to approve the Scoping Plan and make any final changes. It looks like it will be a very close vote. Make your voice count!   Send brief comment letters on the Scoping Plan to CARB, making the following points:    Global warming is the challenge of our generation. Meeting this challenge requires fundamental changes in the way we grow our communities. CARB should raise the land use target in the AB 32 Scoping Plan from 5 million metric tons of C02 equivalent (MMT) to 11-14 MMT. As shown by the analysis of Dr. Reid Ewing and Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, the 5 MMT target is based upon models that are widely acknowledged to underestimate the benefits of dense, mixed-use development, while the higher target is achievable with policies California is already considering. Setting a higher target for the land use sector will signal to the world that new land use patterns are a high priority in the fight against global warming. Conversely, a low target will send the signal that business-as-usual development should continue, and that land use reform is a low priority for California. A higher target must be coupled with a commitment to provide financial resources, technical assistance, and other support to help regions, local governments, and transportation agencies achieve the target.  To submit your comments electronically, visit: http://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/comm/bcsubform.php?listname=scopingpln08&comm_period=A.   To attend the hearing on Thursday, visit: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/scopingplan/notice/psp_notice.pdf.   Thank you for joining us in the fight against global warming,   Matt Vander Sluis Global Warming Program Manager Planning and Conservation League          1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789 pclmail@pcl.org • www.PCL.org • www.PCLFoundation.org   Please add pclmail@pcl.org to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. You are receiving this email because the email address was subscribed to our email list. Having trouble reading this email? View it on our website. Copyright, 2008 The Planning and Conservation League. All rights reserved. Privacy and Contribution Policies. Click here to unsubscribe

PCL Insider Archive, 2005 - 2008

1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814 • Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789 •

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