Transcript Community Planning and Climate Change

Community Planning and
Climate Change
Al Herson, JD, FAICP
Principal, SWCA Environmental
Consultants
UCLA Land Use Law and Policy
Conference, January 25, 2008
The Planning and
Climate Change Connection
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California generates 2% of world’s
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Transportation and electricity account for over
60% of the state’s GHG emissions
Community planning can play major role in
reducing these emissions
Climate change has energized and is
sweeping the planning profession
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Provides substantial new momentum for smart
growth policies
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Presentation Outline
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Today’s policy framework
Land use and transportation strategies
Planning policy initiatives
Recommendations
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Policy Framework
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Executive Order S-03-05
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Goal: reduce GHG emissions to 1990
levels by 2020, to 80% below 1990
levels by 2050
Creates Climate Action Team to develop
GHG reduction strategies, issue
biennial reports to Governor
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AB 32
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Goal: reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels
by 2020
ARB implementation
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October 2007: early actions to be implemented by
2010
January 2008: emissions reporting regulations
January 2009: scoping plan
January 2011: comprehensive regulations adopted
January 2012: comprehensive regulations
implemented
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AB 32 and Planning
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Planning strategies only briefly mentioned in 2006 CAT
report
Planning strategies not included in early actions
Planning strategies currently being considered in
scoping report process
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CEC issued influential land use report in 2007
Environmental groups submitted to ARB strategies including land
use, smart growth, transportation, and low impact development
Strategies to be developed by “LUSCAT” (Land Use Subgroup of
Climate Action team)
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CEQA and Climate Change
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SB 97: by January 2010, Resources Agency
must adopt guidelines on analyzing and
mitigating climate change impacts.
Implications:
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Legislature intends CEQA documents to address
climate change
Legislature did not intend AB 32 to preempt CEQA
from addressing climate change
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CEQA and Climate Change (cont’d)
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In the interim:
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CEQA approaches uncertain
CAPCOA and AEP white papers offer optional
approaches
Attorney General as CEQA enforcer continues to
comment on land use and transportation plan
EIRs
Center for Biological Diversity commenting and
filing CEQA lawsuits, e.g., cities of Banning and
Perris
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Local Initiatives
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Climate change best addressed upfront in
regional and local plans, rather than projectspecific mitigation
Many California communities have or are
adopting GHG reduction initiatives
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Marin County General Plan a model
AG/San Bernardino CEQA lawsuit settlement
requires general plan to include GHG
emissions reduction strategy
Land Use and
Transportation Strategies
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Smart Growth
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Generally includes:
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Compact urban form
More mixed use development
Higher density housing
Transit/pedestrian oriented development
Open space preservation
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Smart Growth (cont’d)
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ULI “Growing Cooler” report
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Reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) essential
part of transportation sector GHG emissions
reduction
Smart growth can reduce VMT 20%-40%
compared to conventional development
How? Fewer and shorter automobile trips
Smart growth can reduce transportation GHG
emissions 7-10% compared to current trends
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Green Building
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Green building regulations: emphasize
energy conservation, water conservation, and
alternative energy sources
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LEED standards for buildings used widely
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Aka “low impact development”
LEED ND (Neighborhood Development)
certification program in pilot stage
LEED ND integrates smart growth and green
building
Cities such as Los Angeles, Santa Monica,
and San Francisco have adopted green
building regulations
Other Ingredients in
Local Climate Action Plans
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Measures to increase transit use
Reduced GHG emissions from
municipal facilities, buildings and fleets
Green purchasing policies
Waste reduction and recycling
Measures to adapt to climate change
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Planning Policy Initiatives
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Local Government Initiatives
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U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement
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Goal: meet Kyoto Protocol target of
reducing GHG emissions to 7% below
1990 levels by 2012
Signed by 710 mayors, over 90 in
California
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Local Government Initiatives (cont’d)
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Cool Counties
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Commits counties to reduce GHG emissions 80%
by 2050
Seven California counties have joined
California Climate Action Network
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Local government forum for information sharing
and collaboration
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ICLEI
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Local government membership: over 1000,
including 60 in California
Cities for Climate Protection Program:
performance based framework for reducing
GHG emissions
Climate Resilient Communities Program:
tools to protect communities fro impacts and
costs of climate change
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Energy Commission Land Use Report
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Regional transportation and air quality
agencies prepare long-term regional growth
plans that reduce GHG emissions to state
targets
State adopts growth management strategy
built from required regional plans
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State planning, infrastructure, and regulation
aligned
Add GHG emissions reduction and energy
conservation to AB 857 goals
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Energy Commission Land Use Report
(cont’d)
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Other recommendations address
technical and financial assistance,
changes in tax policies
California Chapter APA Climate
Change Response Policies
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Planning: similar to CEC report, but
more voluntary and incentive based
CEQA: state should define acceptable
methodologies and provide streamlining
for small projects and LEED-certified
projects
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California Chapter APA Climate
Change Response Policies (cont’d)
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Adaptation
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State should provide projections of climate
change impacts
Regional and local plans should include
adaptation policies
Climate change impacts include: sea level
rise, coastal storms and erosion, flooding,
levee stress, wildfire risks, reduced water
supplies
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SB 375 of 2007 (Steinberg)
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Basic elements:
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ARB sets regional GHG emissions targets
Regional transportation agencies develop
preferred growth scenarios to meet targets
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Author’s intent: extensions of regional “blueprint” plans
Caltrans is already funding
Future state-funded transportation projects to be
consistent with regional plan
CEQA streamlining incentives if local general
plans consistent with preferred growth scenario
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SB 375 (cont’d)
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Criticisms
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Complicates established transportation
planning/funding
Erodes local land use control
Reduces affordable housing
Creates unfunded state mandates
Regional planning agencies differ in
planning capacity and local government
relationships
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Conclusions
Why Changes in Community Planning
are Needed
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Changed planning strategies
implemented today can make a big
difference in GHG emissions
Land use policies can also play key role
in adapting to climate change, e.g.,
coastal and floodplain development
California can serve as role model for
other growing states and nations
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Why Changes in Community Planning
are Needed (cont’d)
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Smart growth strategies provide
benefits in addition to GHG reduction
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E.g., open space preservation, reduced
infrastructure costs, reduced fossil fuel
dependence, improved public health
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The Three Core Strategies
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Revamped “blueprint” regional growth and
transportation plans to reduce GHG
emissions
State infrastructure funding consistent with
new regional plans
Financial and regulatory streamlining
incentives for local plans and projects
consistent with new regional plans
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The Three Core Strategies (cont’d)
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What’s needed to implement strategies?
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State capacity-building, funding, and
technical assistance
Public and private sector engagement
Local government support