20/07/2017

California Lawmakers Approve Landmark Extension To Climate Policy

Reuters - Dan Whitcomb

California's cap-and-trade plan sets a state limit on emissions of greenhouse gases
Solar electric panels are shown installed on the roof of the Hanover Olympic building, the first building to offer individual solar-powered net-zero apartments in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 6, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake
LOS ANGELES - California's legislature passed a package of bills that extends the state's signature plan to address climate change by a decade, sending Governor Jerry Brown a cap-and-trade plan that uses market forces to cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
The legislation puts California at the forefront of plans by mostly Democratic governors to reduce carbon emissions and adhere to the goals of the Paris climate change agreement even after Republican President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the pact.
Brown and other state Democratic leaders have vowed to make California the leader in opposing the environmental policy of Trump, who has rolled back the programs of his predecessor, Barack Obama.
The new California legislation emerged from long negotiations, although only a single Republican joined Democrats in voting in favor of the legislative package in the state Senate on Monday afternoon. Hours later, the Assembly voted 55 to 21 to send the legislation to Brown.
"Tonight, California stood tall and once again, boldly confronted the existential threat of our time. Republicans and Democrats set aside their difference, came together and took courageous action. That's what good government looks like," Brown said in a statement.
Speaking in opposition, State Senator Andy Vidak said the laws represented a "regressive" tax that would not make any impact on climate change.
"We could shut down the entire state of California and it would have no effect on the global climate," Vidak said.
The legislation extends California's cap-and-trade program, which was set to expire in three years, through 2030 and attempts to strengthen it by requiring large industrial facilities to upgrade old equipment with cleaner, more modern technology by 2023.
California's cap-and-trade plan sets a state limit on emissions of greenhouse gases and lets companies, such as factories and refineries, buy and sell permits to emit carbon dioxide. The system uses market forces to find the most efficient ways to cut pollution, supporters say.
The new package seeks to reform the state's existing cap-and-trade market by curbing the number of free carbon allowances by 40 percent by 2030 and requiring that offsets be sourced from California, not elsewhere.
Despite holding a supermajority, Democrats had failed in previous attempts to pass new cap-and-trade legislation over opposition from more liberal members of the party who felt it did not go far enough and moderates concerned about the impact on business.
Republicans were largely united in opposing the legislation, saying it places unfair burdens on consumers and employers, especially on top of a 12-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax hike passed by state lawmakers earlier this year.

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Climate Change Challenge Accepted By Group Of Local Councils

ABC News - David Taylor

Many local residents have already installed solar panels. (ABC News: Chris Le Page)
A group of local government councils are joining forces in an ambitious effort to tackle climate change.
They have been inspired by a new report from the Climate Council showing cities, urban centres and rural townships have the potential to slash energy emissions by a staggering 70 per cent.
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At least 35 councils, representing around 3 million Australians, have already committed to the Cities Power Partnership, a Climate Council initiative to slash emissions at a local level.
Millions of local residents are already involved — from installing solar panels to taking action in their own backyards.
Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie said local leadership was crucial and added in the absence of national action, we need to see more local action.
She said she was frustrated by policy inaction from Canberra.
"This has been exacerbated by rising electricity prices, caused by more expensive gas, and a lack of policy," Ms Mackenzie said.
"So we think it's really important from a number of different angles for there to be greater action to bring on more renewable energy, more storage systems, more energy efficiency, and local sustainable transport solutions."
Some people have taken action against climate change in their own backyards. (ABC News: Clarissa Thorpe)
Climate scientists give plan thumbs up
Climate scientist Will Steffen said it was entirely possible for local councils to make a real difference in reducing carbon emissions.
"The global estimate is — and I think this is true for Australia — that about 70 per cent of the total emissions can be tracked back to cities and towns," Professor Steffen said.
"That's where the action occurs in terms of economic activity, energy use, and so on."
Will Steffen said local councils could make a real difference in reducing carbon emissions. (Supplied: David Flannery)
He agreed local councils were in a position to make big inroads to both national and global emissions at the city level.
"In fact, I think there were over 1,000 city mayors in Paris who have gotten together and formed their own global network," Professor Steffen said.
But he wanted to encourage local residents to be smart with how they go about reducing their carbon emissions.
"It depends on where you are and what your situation is, but one of the common approaches is simple energy efficiency," he said.
"That is, becoming much more efficient in how you use heat, light, how you generate electricity, and so on.
"And that's one way we can learn from each other, because some councils have taken a lot of action in that area, and others haven't."

Sydney's Lane Cove Council ready and raring to go
Climate change is often viewed as a global problem, but in Lane Cove on Sydney's north shore, Mayor Deborah Hutchens agreed it was one that has to be tackled locally.
"Get out there and campaign and be heard," she said.
"Get the people behind it."
Ms Hutchens said the council was most proud of its solar mapping project.
Locals have been hitting the pavement to find the sunniest spots in Lane Cove to harness the solar power.
"We have people involved looking at our strongest solar energy areas," Ms Hutchens said.
"All of the councillors last night decided that they would support this project, so we're very keen to go ahead with it."

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Australian Local Councils Lead The Way In Tackling Climate Change As Federal Policy Stalls

The Guardian - 

Thirty-five councils pledge to switch renewable energy, maximise public transport use and develop more climate-resilient communities
The Climate Council has pointed to findings showing that 70% of the emissions reductions required to keep global warming at 2C can be achieved by making changes at the local level. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Local councils across Australia are taking climate action into their own hands as climate policy paralysis plagues the federal government.
Thirty-five have pledged to switch to renewable energy, build sustainable transport, and develop greener, efficient and more climate-resilient communities.
The pledges by the councils, which serve three million Australians, were made as part of the Climate Council’s launch of the Cities Power Partnership, which encourages towns and cities via local governments to reduce emissions and increase resilience.
The launch came as the Climate Council released a report showing the unique threats and opportunities climate change poses for Australian towns and cities, and highlighting earlier findings that 70% of the emissions reductions required to keep global warming at 2C can be achieved by making changes at the local level.
“Cities and towns are leading the way in Australia with many putting the federal government to shame,” said the Climate Council chief executive, Amanda McKenzie. “This follows the US example where 250 mayors have committed to the Paris agreement in spite of the Trump withdrawal.”
Councils from every state and territory except South Australia signed the pledge, and included Canberra, Alice Springs, Newcastle, North Sydney, Kur-ring-gai and Penrith.
The participating councils will select five actions from a list of 32 that will help them achieve the aims of the partnership, and will report on their progress every six months. The possibilities include rolling out energy-efficient street lighting, setting minimum energy-efficiency benchmarks for planning applications, ensuring new developments maximise public transport use, and setting renewable energy or emissions-reduction targets.
The report also highlights the number of councils already implementing many of the 32 options for action.
The chief councillor of the Climate Council, Tim Flannery, urged “councils across the rest of Australia to take the pledge and get on with the job of combatting climate change”.
Writing in the Conversation, the Climate Council councillor and scientist Lesley Hughes said: “Ultimately, the [Cities Power Partnership] is designed to help local communities sidestep the political roadblocks at national level, and just get on with the job of implementing climate policies.”

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