75B - PH - CLIMATE ACTION PLAN - Laserfiche WebLink

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�6 chapter 1 Introduction gas (GHG) emissions. GHG emissions have the potential to adversely affect the environ- ment because they contribute, on a cumula- tive basis, to climate change. Climate change is increasing the weather- related risks faced by communities across the country, including Santa Ana. Major risks to southern California inland areas include extreme heat waves, which can impact both human health and infrastructure, and a less reliable water supply. Legislative overview State -level policies in California serve as regulatory drivers for action at the local government level. California has adopted a wide variety of regulations aimed at reducing the state's GHG emissions. Key legislation pertaining to California GHG reduction targets is described below. f . e . l IZZMEM California passed the Global Warming Solu- tions Act, also known as Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), in 2005. This bill charged the California Air Resources Board (CARB) with implement- ing a comprehensive statewide program to reduce GHG emissions. AB 32 established the following GHG emissions reduction targets for the state of California: • 2000 levels by 2010 • 1990 levels by 2020 These targets apply to statewide emissions across all sectors of the economy. AB 32 does not require that individual local governments reduce their community emissions to these levels nor does it require that local govern- ments adopt climate action plans. However, the AB 32 Scoping Plan, prepared by CARB to map out strategies for reaching the AB 32 targets, does identify an important role for lo- cal governments in implementing many of the strategies. While impacts are now beginning to appear, they are projected to intensify throughout the twenty -first century, with costly consequences if no action is taken. To slow down and ulti- mately reverse climate change, organizations in every sector of the economy and all levels of government will need to implement new policies to create more efficient, cleaner, and safer communities. This CAP is the City's next step along that path. Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) enhances California's ability to reach its AB 32 targets by promoting good planning through its goal of develop- ing more sustainable communities. SB 375 requires CARB to develop regional GHG emis- sions reduction targets for passenger ve- hicles. CARB has established regional targets for 2020 and 2035 for each region covered by one of the state's 18 metropolitan plan- ning organizations. The targets for the South- ern California Association of Governments (SLAG), where Santa Ana is located, are 8% below 2005 levels by 2020, and 13% below 2005 levels by 2035. The Regional Council of the Southern California Association of Gov- ernments (SCAG) adopted the 2012 -2035 Regional Transportation Plan /Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP /SCS): Towards a Sustainable Future. Many of the measures in this CAP help to implement strategies from the RTP /SCS in the City of Santa Ana. Executive Order S -3 -05 Executive Order S -3 -05, issued by Governor Schwarzenegger, reinforces the targets estab- lished in both AB 32 and SB 375 and also sets a schedule for reporting both the measured impacts of climate change upon California's natural environment and the emissions reduc- tion efforts undertaken by a myriad of state, regional, and local groups. Executive Order S -3 -05 also establishes an additional GHG 75B -14