CP&DR

Climate Change Adaptation Recommendations Result In Same Old Fight

Nov 9, 2009

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 15 Nov 2009 - 1, William Fulton

If predictions about the impact of global warming are even half right, a lot of us are going to be quite literally swimming – or at least wading – through our daily lives in 30 or 40 years. Yet in the current debate about how the state should approach "adaptation" strategies, all parties are crouched in their typically unhelpful postures.

Panel Urges More Work Before Regional GHG Targets Set

Oct 7, 2009

California, Climate change, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 13 Oct 2009 - 1

A committee of experts appointed by the California Air Resources Board should come up with a list of best management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by new development by January 2010. The practices, combined with estimates of future transportation demand, should provide the basis for the board to establish regional targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions later in 2010, according to the advisory committee.

Regions May Get More Climate Mandates, But Little Funding

Oct 7, 2009

Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 13 Oct 2009 - 1, William Fulton

Sometime this year or next year, Congress will probably pass a climate change bill that tries to mimic SB 375's link between transportation patterns and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And the bill will probably generate billions of dollars by capping emissions and placing a market value on them. But it is doubtful Congress use the money to invest in the transportation improvements and land use changes required to reduce automobile travel.

Federal Climate Legislation May Complement State Efforts

Sep 18, 2009

Climate change, Environment Watch, Josh Stephens, Vol. 24 No. 12 Sep 2009 - 2

With the election of President Obama and the emergence of a Democratic majority in Congress, it appears that the federal government may soon pass sweeping legislation to address greenhouse gas emissions. Based on a preponderance of research linking greenhouse gas emissions to urban sprawl and reliance on automobiles, a national program may usher in the next great trend in urban planning. If so, California may find itself well ahead of its fellow states.

Climate Adaptation Plan Urges Development Changes

Aug 18, 2009

California, Climate change, CP&DR Staff, Featured Articles, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

A draft "California Climate Adaptation Strategy" recommends that development projects and locations be reconsidered in light of rising sea levels, greater potential flooding and higher temperatures.

State Funding Doesn't Match GHG Goals, Committee Says

Jul 29, 2009

California, Climate change, Environment Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 09 Aug 2009 - 1

California's continuing budget woes, coupled with the nation's stubborn recession, could hinder the state's ability to meet its ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This is one of the chief concerns of the Regional Targets Advisory Committee, which will recommend how the California Air Resources Board should allocate greenhouse gas emissions-reduction targets among the state's metropolitan planning organizations.

Bureaucratic Compliance With SB 375 May Not Reduce Driving

Jul 1, 2009

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1, William Fulton

Now that the age of greenhouse gas emissions reduction is upon us, I think there's an important point worth making: Government agencies in California can try to comply with SB 375 – or they can focus on reducing driving. There is a lot of overlap between the two, but they are not exactly the same thing.

Proposed SCAG Plan Falls Short Of Likely SB 375 Target

May 11, 2009

Climate change, Featured Articles, Vol. 24 No. 06 Jun 2009, William Fulton

Southern California's regional planning agency unveiled a new "conceptual land use plan" on Friday, May 8 –but the plan does not meet the presumed greenhouse gas emissions target for the region under SB 375, and SCAG has not revealed yet how growth would be split up under the most transit-oriented interpretation of the plan.

Cities, Counties Weigh SB 375 Strategies While Rules Evolve

Apr 28, 2009

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009, William Fulton

SB 375 is now law, but another year and a half will pass before the California Air Resources Board adopts the follow-up numerical regional targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. This puts California's cities and counties in a pretty big bind: How can they adopt plans for the future that will conform with the climate change law if they don't know what standard they are going to have to comply with?

CARB Decision Places Even More Focus On SB 375 Process

Dec 30, 2008

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 01 Jan 2009, William Fulton

Five million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

This is the target – at least for now – that is likely to drive
"smart growth"-style land use planning in California over the next few years. It's the tentative reduction target that the California Air Resources Board has assigned to the land use sector in order to help meet the state's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals by 2020.