PROTECTING OUR AIR AND CLIMATE

California produces roughly 1.4 percent of the world's, and 6.2 percent of the total U.S., greenhouse gases (GHG).  In order to control and reduce GHG emissions, California has taken a proactive role. California's major initiatives for reducing climate change or greenhouse gas emissions are outlined in Assembly Bill 32 (signed into law 2006), 2005 Executive Order and a 2004 ARB regulation to reduce passenger car GHG emissions. These efforts aim at reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 - a reduction of about 25 percent, and then an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.

What The Air District Is Doing

The District’s climate protection program includes the integration of climate protection activities into existing District programs. The District is continually seeking ways to integrate climate protection into current District functions, including grant programs, CEQA review, regulations, inventory development, and outreach. In addition, the District's climate protection program emphasizes collaboration with ongoing climate protection efforts at the local and State level, as well as public education and outreach and technical assistance to cities and counties.

The District has joined the Climate Action Registry, a program that is “aimed at developing and managing a common greenhouse gas emissions reporting system” that will form the basis for future regulatory and voluntary efforts to assess, verify, and credit reductions in these emissions. This program requires the District to establish baseline energy use against which future actions and policies to reduce usage can be measured for effectiveness.

CAPCOA's CEQA White Paper

Air District staff, in collaboration with the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, published a white paper in 2007 entitled CEQA & Climate Change: Evaluating and Addressing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Projects Subject to the California Environmental Quality Act. This well-received treatise was developed to serve as a resource for public agencies as they establish procedures for reviewing greenhouse gas emissions from projects under CEQA.  It considers the application of thresholds and offers three approaches toward determining whether greenhouse gas emissions are significant.  The paper also evaluates tools and methodologies for estimating project impacts, and summarizes mitigation measures. For questions on the CAPCOA White Paper, contact Matt Jones at (530) 757-3668.

What You Can Do

The most severe climate change impacts can still be avoided or reduced if we act now. We can all take actions to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Driving less or driving more fuel efficiently, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as will recycling, composting, and reducing the amount of waste we produce. Using less electricity will also contribute to a reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.

What You Can Do At School

Students, educators, and school administrators can all play a key role in
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. more info

Ten Things You Can Do

• Drive Smart

Cut down on speeding, rapid acceleration and heavy braking. Inefficient driving can reduce gas mileage by 30%. Travel Matters

• Light Right

Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones that use 60% less energy. more info

• Pull the Plug

Disconnect electronic devices that are not in use. Passive usage now accounts for 10% of all home energy use.

• Think Before You Fly

Take vacations closer to home and use teleconferences for work meetings. Air travel is one of the fastest-growing producers of greenhouse gas emissions.

• 2 Degrees = 2,000 Pounds

Set the thermostat 2 degrees higher in the summer and lower in the winter to save one ton of carbon emissions yearly.

• Turn off the Tap

Save water and save energy: 20% of electricity and 30% of natural gas in California is used just to transport, treat and heat water and wastewater.

• Take the Oil Out of Your Food

Buy more local groceries and products instead of items that must be transported long distance.

• Lose the Trash

Use products with less packaging. Manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of packaging all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

• Cancel Your Carbon

Calculate your greenhouse gas emissions, then pay to “offset” the damage by funding low-carbon energy alternatives. Calculator

• Be Loud

Talk to your clients and vendors, community leaders and elected officials. Tell them you want climate protection to be “business as usual.”