Local greenhouse gas reduction planning by California’s cities and counties has been primarily focused on adopting local measures that are supportive of reaching the GHG reduction target established in the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), which calls for reducing emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Similarly, greenhouse gas analysis and mitigation for discretionary projects reviewed under CEQA has been conducted under the rubric of thresholds that are based on consistency with the AB 32 reduction target for 2020. AB 32 is only a start for greenhouse gas reduction planning given that the long-term global imperative to limit the more extreme effects of global warming on climate change will require much more substantial reductions than required by AB 32.
For new development projects, there is already pressure to analyze the impact of projects on greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on post-2020 greenhouse reductions in CEQA documents. CEQA documents will soon need to analyze greenhouse gas emissions in the context of the scientific imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more aggressively in the post-2020 period to avoid the more substantial adverse impacts of climate change (compared to the effort to meet AB-32 goals). With a new legislative target for 2030, individual projects will need to demonstrate substantial greenhouse reductions going above and beyond project-level and local level requirements to demonstrate that the project is doing its “fair-share” in relation to the long-term climate change challenge.
Join AEP Central Chapter for a discussion of recent changes in requirements for the analysis of greenhouse gas emissions, including compliance with the State’s 2030 greenhouse gas reduction goal. Strategies to evaluate post-2020 greenhouse gas reduction targets for development projects, recent case law, and greenhouse gas thresholds in CEQA analysis will also be discussed.
Speaker: Michael Hendrix, Associate at LSA. For over 18 years, Michael Hendrix has conducted analysis of greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and climate action planning. He has done extensive research analyzing specific technical issues of air quality, GHG emissions, and global climate change, as they relate to project compliance with state, national, and international efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change. His experience includes public outreach efforts for project-specific meetings and for informing local and State officials on general air quality and GHG emissions issues. Mr. Hendrix is also the Chair of AEP’s Climate Change Committee.
Cost: AEP Members - $5, Non-Members - $30, Student Non-Member - $10
If you have questions you can contact Ellen Moore at 559-637-4200 x 222 or ellen.moore@reedley.ca.gov.
