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UPDATES ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS IN CALIFORNIA

 

Sierra Club California Blog Spot

Video of the Governor

 

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger just signed a Sierra Club California priority bill to reduce toxics in products. Click the picture to view the historic event.

 

 

 

 

 

Elections 2008

You face a lot of important decisions this November. Explore the links to learn more about the propositions.

Prop 1A

  • Prop 1A would provide $9.95 billion dollars to catalyze the development of the 800 mile High-Speed Rail (HSR) system, and to make improvements to existing rail networks.

pos

YES

Prop 2

  • Prop 2 would reduce the density of farm animals, and therefore the intensity of the air and water pollution.

pos

YES

Prop 4

  • Would require women under 18 to wait 48 hours before obtaining an abortion, and would require notification of parents or grandparents or permission from the court before proceeding.

pos

NO

Prop 7

  • Contains serious, inherent flaws that could get in the way of achieving its goal of 50% renewable fuels by 2025.
  • Actually works against Sierra Club-backed energy policies that would allow communities to choose the source of their energy.
  • Decreases environmental review of proposed power plants.

 

pos

NO

Prop 10

  • Would put California on the wrong road to cleaner vehicles by setting up faulty programs.

For more information, please visit No on Proposition 10 website.

pos

NO

Click this link to explore Sierra Club's endorsements in your district

GLOBAL WARMING: The Next 30 Years

California’s Air Resources Board just came out with their draft plan for taking on the pollution that causes global warming. It’s designed to set a course of action for the next 30 years – or more.

Here’s what Bill Magavern, Sierra Club California’s Director, has to say about the new plan, and about the challenges the measure faces:

Statement of Bill Magavern, Sierra Club California Director:

This balanced and comprehensive draft plan starts California down the path to a greener economy. But it comes with a challenge: Big oil companies already have begun a campaign to block the clean-energy transition as they count their windfall profits and push for new drilling off our beautiful coast.

They’re in the dark. A strong majority of Californians support the major measures in this plan because they know we can save money on energy while reducing the pollutants that harm human health and warm the planet.

We urge Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature to reject the attempt by big polluters and Senate Republicans to roll back California’s landmark global warming law. Instead of looking backward, our government should move forward to meet not only the AB 32 requirement (returning to 1990 emission levels by 2020), but also the governor’s goal of an 80 percent reduction by 2050. We cannot afford to give in to the voices of obstruction and delay.

Today’s draft has the potential to be the premier greenhouse gas reduction effort in the country, with a 33 percent clean-energy standard to drive innovation, energy efficiency measures to keep dollars at home, and clean-vehicle requirements to reduce toxic air pollution.  Still, it can become stronger. As the Air Board fills out and finalizes the plan, we’d like to see more measures that reduce vehicle miles traveled, accelerate production of zero-emission vehicles, preserve farmland and boost recycling rates.

The Air Board’s draft plan also considers the trading of greenhouse gases. If California does join a regional carbon market, it should require all big polluters to pay for their emissions, and should enforce strict limits on any emissions offsets. Also, ARB must analyze the impacts of any market system on the air quality of our most polluted communities. Finally, emissions fees should be analyzed along with carbon markets, as the draft proposes.

With this draft plan, the Air Board demonstrates again that California is taking real actions to fight pollution that causes global warming, even while the Bush Administration fails to act.

Many ideas brought up by Sierra Club California activists made it into the plan. Read their May 2008 comments to CARB.

California environmentalists urge caution, accountability in approach to greenhouse gas trading.

Your donation helps us support policies that address global warming

Latest News on Global Warming Scoping Plan

CARL POPE: “States Keep Trucking” (June 30, 2008)

From the San Francisco Chronicle: Air board to vet plans for war on warming (June 26, 2008)

From Sac Bee: State renews climate battle (June 26, 2008)

Christian Science Monitor: California’s plan to cut emissions heavy on mandates (June 26, 2008)

 

 
 

Latest News

From the California Progress Report: Coalition of “EVERYONE” Launches No on 10 Campaign (October 10th, 2008)

From Captiol Weekly: Prescription: A healthier global warming plan (October 9th, 2008)

From the Daily Journal: Energy propositions taking heat from critics (October 9th, 2008)

Sierra Club California Hails New Toxics-Fighting Law (September 30, 2008)

California launches broad effort to control hazardous chemicals (September 30, 2008)

Schwarzenegger signs chemical regulation overhaul (September 29, 2008)

Making California Fire-Safe Starts by Not Making the Problem Worse (Sept. 25, 2008)

Western states pitch plan to reduce greenhouse emissions (Sept. 24, 2008)

Propositions 7 and 10 Offer Californians No Real Alternatives: Sierra Club California Opposes Both (September 18, 2008)

Press Conference Held to Announce Opposition to Oil & Gas Drilling Off California´s Coast
(Sept. 12,2008)

Capitol Weekly: Money, health at center of fight over diesel rules (September 11, 2008)

Ruskin Mercury Pollution Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature (August 29, 2008)

From La Liberté: Article on offshore drilling "Bush Veut Autoriser L’exploitation Off Shore Du Petrole. Des Forages En Reponse a Lacrise

OC Voice: Win One for the Gipper: Toll road opponents fight smears and disinformation (August 18, 2008)

SM Daily Journal: Yee proposes Half Moon Bay park plan (August 15, 2008)

HMB Review: Yee compromise would bring $10 million to offset HMB costs at Beachwood (August 15, 2008)

Newsdesk: Timber Trumps Salmon in California (August 14, 2008)

Record-Searchlight: Lawmakers develop letter to governor on flame prevention (August 14, 2008)

Capitol Weekly: Old ideas percolate anew in state budget discussion (August 14, 2008)

AP: Feinstein pressures Calif. lawmakers on water bond (August 13, 2008)

California Chronicle: Senate Improves, Approves High Speed Rail Bill (August 9, 2008)

BLOG: AB 3034 Passes the Senate (August 7, 2008)