California Climate Change Policy

What Are We Talking About?

Image credit: Department of Water Resources (www.water.ca.gov)

California’s Changing Climate

Image credit: U.S. Global Change Research Program (www.globalchange.gov).

What Are California’s Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions?

Source: ARB Scoping Plan, Figure 1: California’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2002-2004) Average

Major Climate Change Laws in California

• Executive Order S-3-05• Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32)• Sustainable Communities and

Climate Protection Act (SB375)• California Environmental Quality Act • Executive Order S-13-08

Executive Order S-3-05

Global Warming Solutions Act(AB 32)

• Mandates Emissions Reductions– 1990 emissions by 2020

• Scoping Plan– Cap and Trade– RPS– Low Carbon Fuel Standard– Landfill Methane Capture

• Land Use? • Local Governments?

SB 375 and Transportation Emissions

• Background

• Regulate Land Use?– Transportation Funding– CEQA Streamlining– RHNA and Housing Elements

• Status Update

CEQA Guidelines

• Determining Significance– Emissions– Energy Use– Effects of Climate Change

• Mitigating Emissions• Using Climate Action Plans• Changes to the Initial Study Checklist• Addressing Adaptation • Case law update

Plan for the Reduction of GHGs New § 15183.5(b)

• Plan should contain at least the following elements:– Quantify GHG emissions within a defined area– Establish emissions levels where GHG emissions

are not cumulatively considerable– Identify emissions from Plan activities– Specify measures to achieve the specified

emissions level– Monitor progress and amend if necessary;– Adopt in a public process following environmental

review

Other Climate Activities

www.opr.ca.gov