The PCL Insider: News From The Capitol

INDUSTRY THREATENS TO MAKE THE HOLIDAYS SLUSHY, ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES FIGHT BACK: A GLOBAL WARMING UPDATE

“We were doing all right with our Christmas of white
But now we’ll have a Blue, Blue Christmas”
– Loosely borrowed from Elvis Presley

It's true. Global warming doesn't just threaten public health, species and habitat protection, agriculture, recreation, and our overall economic stability. It endangers that quintessential American experience, the snowy winter holiday. Such "grinch-like" behavior from the climate is sure to make even the most festive family feel blue. 

And here's some troubling news about California's struggle to curb global warming that might have us all singing "Frosty the Slush-man" this holiday season.

Last week, several industry organizations announced the formation of a new coalition to influence the implementation of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which Governor Schwarzenegger signed earlier this year.

The legislation requires a statewide reduction of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2020 and establishes a public participation process to help determine how effectively to accomplish the required emission reductions.

The newly minted "AB 32 Industry Implementation Group" includes the Western States Petroleum Association, California Independent Petroleum Association, California Chamber of Commerce, California Business Roundtable and California Manufacturers and Technology Association, all of whom vocally opposed the global warming legislation.

We're concerned that this oil-centric conglomerate will attempt to derail the implementation process and try to position itself as the authoritative voice of business in the ongoing climate discussions, crowding out the broad base of businesses that strongly support greenhouse gas reductions.

All of these corporate conniptions require – again in the words of Mr. Presley – a little less conversation and a little more action.

That's why PCL and PCL Foundation are proud to announce three new endeavors to help make climate change consciousness a part of business as usual in California.

CEQA Workshops:

We've recently begun preparations for a series of workshops across the state to show how the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) can help local communities make significant reductions in global warming pollution. Arguably the most powerful and effective environmental protection law in the nation, CEQA requires that the public and decision makers receive accurate information on the environmental impacts of proposed projects and policies to inform decision making. CEQA also requires full mitigation of potential impacts wherever feasible. Our workshops will help ensure that projects in California properly reduce, avoid or mitigate their impacts on climate change and that the public fully understands how the increasing effects of climate change may impact implementation of proposed projects.

With over 13,000 projects undergoing CEQA review each year, the vast majority of which fail to address climate change, these workshops can help change the course of development in our Golden State. That would be fine with California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who in April chastised the Orange County Transportation Authority for failing to consider the impacts of climate change in its CEQA analysis of a long-range transportation plan. It sounds like a sea change, doesn't it?

New CEQA Guide with Global Warming Focus:

We're also updating our popular Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act to incorporate new developments in case law and highlight tools to ensure that public agencies properly address the environmental consequences of climate change. This guide is a hot item with community members, planners, government representatives, and the media. And a Spanish version should be available shortly after the release of the update!

We'll be letting you know more about the workshops and the Guide to the California Environmental Quality Act in the next few weeks. In the meantime, email René Guerrero (rguerrero@pcl.org) to find out more.

NEW PCL-NWF Global Warming Campaign:

Finally, PCL is teaming up with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) in a new program to make sure that California doesn't take an oil-sponsored "detour" on the road to full implementation of AB 32. We also expect to leverage our successful state efforts to bring about federal changes, working closely with Senator Barbara Boxer. NWF is our nation's largest conservation organization, with about 400,000 members and supporters in California alone, and PCL is the NWF California affiliate. We are confident that our new Global Warming Campaign, with a new full time staff person focused entirely on climate issues, is going to make a significant difference.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING: CLEAN AIR

Last Thursday, the Kirsch Foundation sponsored its annual California Clean Air Roundtable at the University of California at Davis. Over forty-five individuals from across the state participated, with an especially large contingent from the San Joaquin Valley where more residents die from air pollution than from homicide. The assembled organizations chose pollution enforcement as one of their central priorities for the year. They hope to bring back many of the air pollution bills that were blocked by the Legislature or the Governor during the 2006 legislative session, including a measure to increase the maximum penalties for civil and criminal violations of air pollution laws and a provision to close the loophole that prevents violators of air pollution laws from facing both civil and criminal penalties, a common practice in all other areas of environmental law.

Expect some excitement as these measures return to the Capitol!