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City of Santa Ana <br />Environmental Checklist <br />Less-than- <br />Significant <br />Potentially Impact with Less -than- <br />Significant Mitigation Significant No <br />VII. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact Incorporated Impact Impact <br />Would the project: <br />a. Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either directly or ❑ ® ❑ ❑ <br />indirectly, that may have a significant impact on the <br />environment? <br />b. Conflict with an applicable plan, policy or regulation ❑ ❑ ® ❑ <br />adopted for the purpose of reducing the emissions of <br />greenhouse gases? <br />Discussion <br />Environmental Setting <br />State Greenhouse Gas Emissions <br />Worldwide, California is the 121h to 16th largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) and is responsible <br />for approximately 2% of the world's CO2 emissions (CEC 2006). <br />Transportation is responsible for 38% of the state's GHG emissions, followed by the industrial sector <br />(23 %), electricity generation (18 %), and agriculture (7 %) (CARB 2011). Emissions of CO2 and <br />nitrous oxide (N20) are byproducts of fossil fuel combustion, among other sources. Methane (CH4), a <br />highly potent GHG, results from off - gassing associated with agricultural practices and landfills, <br />among other sources. Sinks of CO2 include uptake by vegetation and dissolution into the ocean. <br />California GHG emissions in 2009 totaled approximately 456.8 million metric tons (MMT) in carbon <br />dioxide equivalents (COze). Greenhouse gas emissions other than COz are commonly converted into <br />carbon dioxide equivalents, which takes into account the differing global warming potential (GWP) <br />of different gases. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (fPCC) finds that <br />N20 has a GWP of 310 and methane has a GWP of 21(IPCC 2007). Thus, emissions of 1 ton of N20 <br />and 1 ton of CH4 are represented as the emissions of 310 tons and 21 tons of COze, respectively. This <br />method allows for the summation of different greenhouse gas emissions into a single total. <br />Climate change could impact the natural environment in California in the following ways (among <br />others): <br />• Rising sea levels along the California coastline, particularly in San Francisco and the San Joaquin <br />Delta due to ocean expansion. <br />• Extreme -heat conditions, such as heat waves and very high temperatures, which could last <br />longer and become more frequent. <br />• An increase in heat - related human deaths, infectious diseases, and a higher risk of respiratory <br />problems caused by deteriorating air quality. <br />The Academy Charter High School June 2012 <br />Initial Study /Mitigated Negative Declaration 3 42 iCP 00914.11 <br />Ik :9 1 Fee� <br />