CALIFORNIA AIR BOARD APPROVES LANDMARK GLOBAL WARMING PLAN, SKIPS OPPORTUNITY TO FIX FLAWS
Last Thursday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Scoping Plan for AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The approved plan lays out an ambitious array of actions to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. Measures in the plan include expansion of our renewable energy goals, cleaner cars, and greater energy efficiency in our homes and businesses. Many of these actions bring other benefits to California, from cleaner air and water to cost savings and job creation.
While the board's approval marks an important step forward in the fight against global warming, and we're pleased to report that substantive improvements were included in the adopted board resolution, the plan still stumbles on several areas.
According to the plan, polluting companies may reap windfall profits, receiving financially valuable pollution allowances for free. At a time when our state is struggling to make sure bus drivers and teachers get paid, it doesn't make sense to provide new subsidies to our worst polluters.
We're also disappointed that, despite a loud outcry from the environmental community, many local governments, health advocates, and progressive developers, the Scoping Plan does not include a stronger commitment to addressing California's sprawling growth patterns. Recent studies have shown that better land use decisions in California could result in a reduction of greenhouse emissions on the order of 11-14 million metric tons (MMT) by 2020. At their November hearing on the plan, the CARB board members requested that the staff reexamine the plan's 5 MMT land use target and explore a new target of 10 to 15 MMT. Unfortunately the staff came back empty handed and the board members decided to stick with the 5 MMT target until a special committee explores the issue in greater detail in 2009.
We'll continue to work with CARB, the Legislature, and communities across California to make sure that we achieve our low carbon future in an effective, fair manner and that tomorrow's land use patterns enable us to meet our emission reduction goals and build healthy, sustainable communities. To find out how you can help, contact PCL's global warming program manager Matt Vander Sluis.
MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN LAND USE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AT PCL'S ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM - 51 DAYS LEFT BEFORE REGISTRATION RATE INCREASES!
Community design decisions such as building density, open space access, and mobility options have a significant impact on our health, affecting our air quality, exposure to hazards, exercise opportunities, and access to food, employment, and health care, to name just a few. Medical issues like obesity, diabetes, asthma, and mental health can all be influenced by how our cities are shaped.
Given the range of health implications of our land use decisions, what can we do to make sure that public health becomes an integral part of the land use and transportation review process? Join us at the PCL Symposium to find out!
Hear from panelists Dr. Robert Ogilvie (Planning for Healthy Places), Dr. Rajiv Batia (San Francisco Department of Public Health), and Alex Hinds (formerly of the County of Marin) to learn how to successfully include public health stakeholders in the land use planning process. Hear examples of how collaboration between developers, public health experts, and community based organizations has helped to create healthier communities and where public health concerns are not being addressed.
Register early for the PCL-PCLF Symposium and Banquet. The event is on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Sacramento. For more information, contact Melanie Schlotterbeck at (714) 779-7561 or MSchlotterbeck@pcl.org.
NOTE: We have recently clarified our cancellation policy. If you need to cancel your registration for the Symposium, send written or faxed notification to 916-448-1789.
If notification of cancellation is received by:
December 31, 2008 - you will receive a 100% refund*
January 16, 2009 - you will receive a 50% refund*
After January 17, 2009 - no refunds will be given
* Each processed refund includes a $20 administrative fee, which will be deducted from the refunded amount.
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Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789
1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814 • Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789 •
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