Climate Change

State Activities

California Air Resources Board

California's major initiatives for reducing climate change or greenhouse gas (GHG) 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 approximately 30 percent, and then an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050. The main strategies for making these reductions are outlined in the Scoping Plan.

More information on what is happening at the state level can be found on ARB's website.

The Office of Planning and Research

On April 13, 2009, OPR submitted to the Secretary for Natural Resources its proposed amendments to the state CEQA Guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions, as required by Senate Bill 97 (Chapter 185, 2007). These proposed CEQA Guideline amendments would provide guidance to public agencies regarding the analysis and mitigation of the effects of greenhouse gas emissions in draft CEQA documents. The Natural Resources Agency will conduct formal rulemaking in 2009, prior to certifying and adopting the amendments, as required by Senate Bill 97.

More information on what is CEQA Guidelines can be found on OPR's website.

Local Activities

APCD Activities

The APCD's 2008 Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory has been reveiwed by the California Climate Action Registry and found to meet the the standards of the General Reporting Protocol Version 3.1. For successfully completing the verification process the APCD has been granted the status of Climate Action Leader.

Countywide Activities

The San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Board, at its November 16, 2005 meeting approved APCD staff’s proposal to take actions locally to address climate change.  Staff recommendation and proposed actions are outlined in a report entitled Options for Addressing Climate Change in San Luis Obispo County.

Many of the air pollution programs already in place throughout SLO County reduce ozone forming pollutants and toxic emission, but they also have ancillary benefits and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  These programs include existing Rules and Regulations, Clean Fuels Programs, CEQA Mitigations Measures, Grants, Transportation Choices Program, Pollution Prevention Activities, and general Public Outreach.

The climate change action plan identifies seven particular actions that could be implemented to specifically address greenhouse gases (GHG) at the local level. These actions include:

-       Preparing a countywide inventory of GHG emissions;

-       Targeting a percentage of mitigation grant funds for GHG emission reductions;

-       Evaluating and quantifying the GHG reduction benefits from existing district programs;

-       Developing public education and outreach campaigns on climate change;

-       Encouraging and providing support for local governments to join the Cities for Climate Protection program;

-       Developing partnership with Cal Poly for addressing climate change; and

-       Joining the California Climate Registry and encouraging local industry participation.

Contact us for more information on this topic.