The document outlines California's greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, emphasizing the need to lower emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80% of 1990 levels by 2050 amid a growing population. It highlights the critical role of local governments in planning and implementing solutions to environmental challenges, and the necessity for regional cooperation and empowerment to achieve these goals. Recent legislation, such as SB 375, aims to enhance local strategies for sustainable development and climate change compliance, while addressing the complexities of planning and environmental regulations.

1. Prepared and Presented by: Timothy D. Cremin, Meyers Nave Eric W. Davis, Somach Simmons & Dunn Joel Ellinwood, AICP Lawyer-Planner Sacramento, California December 12, 2008

2. Think Globally Act Locally

3. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Goals & Challenges Lower to 1990 levels by 2020 (AB 32) 25 – 30 % below current levels Population increase of 18 – 20 % (7 million) Lower to 80% of 1990 level by 2050 (IPCC) Population increase of 10 – 15 million MORE How? – catch me later “ Scoping Plan” by 1/1/2009 New regulations by 1/1/2011 to be effective on 1/1/2012 29,828,000 39,135,676 49,240,891 59,507,876

4. Climate Action Team Players Cal Environmental Protection Agency California Air Resources Board (CARB) California Resources Agency California Energy Commission (CEC) California Business Transportation & Housing Agency Cal Dept. of Transportation (CalTrans)

5. Climate Action Team Bench Land Use Planning Governor’s Office of Planning & Research (OPR) Charged with State Planning & Coordination of all State, Regional & Local Agencies – Issue Delegated to Energy Commission (?) Sea Level Rise California Coastal Commission SF Bay and Delta Commissions Flooding and Drought Flood Control Commission (Reclamation Bd) Levee Districts Food & Ag Dept, Dept of Forestry, Water Resources

6. Climate Action Team Also Rans Playing Catch-Up Big Time State Legislature Pending implementation measures Attorney General Represents State in suits by automakers Sues Federal Government Sues Local Governments (CEQA)

7. Climate Action Team No Shows Local Government COGs Metro Planning Agencies Local & Regional Initiatives Conference of Mayors Silicon Valley Leadership Group Clean Cities Coalition

8. Emission Source Inventory Industrial sources (refineries, cement plants, steel etc.) 18% Power plants 28% Transportation – internal combustion powered VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED 39% historic trend 2% average annual increase in VMT

9. Greenhouse Gas End Users Built environment (materials, lighting, heating & cooling) 48% Transportation 27% Industry 25% Trending up (Source: AIA)

10. Potential Means of Emissions Reduction New technology / rethink old choices (e.g. natural gas vs. nuclear power) Regulation – command & control Market Mechanisms – Trading, Carbon Tax Retrofit & Infill – reduce existing sources Zero Carbon Footprint of new growth & development

11. Locus of government authority Federal control Foreign Policy; Tax Policy; Budget State seeks exemptions or power Clean Air Act Vehicle Emissions standards Railroads Ports and maritime Carbon Credit Trading Markets State control Highways Power and public utilities regulation Water and air quality enforcement regulation Tax policy

12. Locus of government authority Local Control = Key to VMT reduction Land Use – Where people live and work Public transit – How they get there Redevelopment – Rebuilding the core Local districts – means to finance No Intermediate Regional Legal Authority Mismatch of scale between problems, solutions and authority to plan & implement Local Government Operations

13. Locus of government authority Local Control with Responsibility for Global Impacts and Regional Scale of Problems and Solutions = Local Powerlessness & Loss of Control Empowerment and Incentives for Local Control to Implement Regional Strategies The sum of all personal & local decisions are as important as state or national decisions

14. Reform of Regional Planning and Development Decision Making Rationalization of Existing Agency Powers & Priorities LAFCos Councils of Governments – Metro Planning Agencies Regional Transportation Planning Agencies Regional Transit Agencies Regional Air Quality Enforcement Districts Regional Water Quality Control Boards Regional Air Quality Control Boards

15. Reform of Regional Planning and Development Decision Making Authority to Implement Regional Solutions Regional Impact Fees (Mitigation Fee Act JPA) Financing for Regional Infrastructure Systems Preservation of Open Space Location, Entitlements and Financing for New Sustainable Communities Coordination of Transportation, Housing & Land Use

16. Reform of Regional Planning and Development Decision Making Top Down – State Mandates to Existing Local Governments, e.g. new General Plan element One Size Fits All ● Unfunded Mandates Irrational equality for diverse contexts and problems Incentives and Funding for Regional Cooperation – Tolerance for Diversity of Means Bottom Up - Local Vision, Initiative, Cooperation

17. Reform of Regional Planning and Development Decision Making Key Interest Groups Will Influence Outcome State Agencies (CalTrans vs. CARB) Cities & Counties, COGs & LAFCos Professional & Advocacy Groups (APA, Environmental Groups, Chamber, Farm Bureau, etc.) Building Industry Association (BIA)

18. Reform of Regional Planning and Development Decision Making Recent Legislation: SB 375 – Steinberg RTIP/Blueprint becomes key CEQA Climate Change Compliance Incentive “ Sustainable Community Strategy” (SCS) to accommodate new growth & development

19. Current Issues for Local Government from Climate Change What to do while waiting for the sky to fall from CARB , OPR and the courts Planning Actions & Building Standards Local Government GHG Reduction Plans Public/Private Partnerships for Innovation CEQA Climate Change Impact Analysis of Pending Projects – litigation issue de jour

20. CEQA Climate Change Analysis Quantification – Baseline, Factors Threshold of Significance – MND or EIR? Mitigation Measures Alternatives Analysis Significant Unavoidable Impact / Finding of Overriding Considerations? OPR Guidelines Coming 7/1/2009 – SB 97

21. Planning & Building Standards LEED Certification Solar / Alternative Energy Mandates Pedestrian & Bicycle Friendly Transit-Oriented Development Higher density near transit Mixed use Quality and Special Sense of Place Common Open Spaces

22. Local Government GHG Reduction Department level employee and public participation Short-term and longer term strategies and goals, regular assessment Everyone can contribute and make a difference – empowerment & hope Less can mean better Meaningful context and support for personal responsibility

23. Public/Private Partnerships for Innovation Millennial Challenge for Survival on a Global Scale Remake economic, social and natural relationships Shared risk and common interest surpassing race, class, religion, culture, even species

24. Attitudes Toward Climate Change What to do while waiting for the sky to fall Denial / Resistance Let Someone Else Figure It Out Why Bother if China and India Don’t Act First ? Do Anything and Everything Because We Need It All - Henny Penny If We Each Do What is Within Our Power It Increases the Likelihood that Together We Will All Do Enough

25. Big Government / Local Government Who first said: “ That government is best which governs least .” Ronald Reagan ? Thomas Jefferson ? Thomas Paine ? Henry David Thoreau

26. Big Government / Local Government “ The least government that can govern is best .” (most local) ^ v (Solve the Problem, Meet the Need) The greater the power of remote and unaccountable government the less we can control our own community and individual liberty.

27. Think Globally Act Locally “ Respect Local Control . . . Provide Regional Perspective”