What is the basis of the contemporary call for green action and movements all over the United States and the world? Well, it all boils down to our personal beliefs and principles when it comes to our environment and planet. We know from our everyday experience, however, that not everybody agrees with us and that there are sometimes valid reasons why people disagree with “green efforts and actions”. The debate whether we should take action in saving our environment and planet is over, however. After all, what are we supposed to do if we really find out that climate change is a hoax and we created a better world for ourselves? Do we go back to the Middle East and forget our energy independence?
Take solar panels off our roofs? Or leave the faucet running? What harm will it do if we simply change our lifestyles to green? If green means cutting down your utility bills, extending your car mileage and lowering fuel cost, or making our cities clean and safe?
The intent of this page is provide you with the latest actions, events, legislation and reports that serves as basis for a call to “green action” In other words, knowledge about our basis is an important part of thinking about who we are, what we aim to do and how we are going to achieve our aims. Remember, the cost of not doing anything is greater than doing something now.
ASSEMBLY BILL 32: Reducing Carbon Emissions by year 2020
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) mandates that carbon emissions be reduced to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% lower than 1990 levels by 2050. California Air Resource Board (CARB) is the responsible agency and they are charged with developing and implementing a plan to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) that is cost effective, real and quantifiable. There are timelines for CARB to achieve certain results through 2020.
Senate Bill 375: Redesigning Communities to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
SB 375 is one of the measures that helps achieve the goals of AB 32. The California law targets the largest producer of GHG; light trucks and cars. Transportation is responsible for 40% of the State’s GHG emissions with 30% coming from light trucks and cars. The bill aims to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by making sure that regional transportation plans are connected with land use and housing development. Basically, designing community plans that will encourage Californians to get out of their cars and take alternative means of mobility (getting from one place to another) and increase quality of life.
AB 1881: Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
In November of 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006 (AB 1881). AB 1881 requires the State of California Department of Water Resources (DWR) no later than January 1, 2009 by regulation to update the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Assembly Bill 325. Riverside County responded with a Water Task Force and a Landscape Efficiency Sub committee made up of public agency, water district, private sector professionals to analyze and comment on AB 1881 and its adaptation into Riverside County’s Landscape Ordinance 859. This law will be fully implemented in 2010.
