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California’s Climate Crisis Plan Flawed, Advisors Say
As California races to prevent the irreversible effects of climate change, some experts are questioning key policies that the state is counting on to meet its ambitious goals and accusing state officials of failing to provide substantial details to back up its claims.
The California Air Resources Board’s proposal, called a scoping plan, outlines policies that would transition the economy away from fossil fuels. The purpose of the plan is to fulfill state mandates to reduce planet-warming emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
In this year’s highly-anticipated climate policy blueprint, some critics say the state agency has not been transparent on how it plans to achieve its goals. The process has left legislators and others at the forefront of the climate discussion confused over the air board staff’s projections.
“The draft scoping plan does California a disservice,” said Danny Cullenward, an economist and vice chair of the Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee, a group of five experts appointed by the governor and top legislators to assess the effectiveness of the state’s landmark cap and trade program. “It focuses on long-term goals at the expense of nearterm action.”
At two recent state committee meetings, environmentalists, academics and climate policy experts who serve on state advisory panels voiced concerns over California’s approach to tackling the climate crisis. They called the plan incomplete, ambiguous and confusing.
In addition, in a letter sent June 2 to the Air Resources Board and Gov. Gavin Newsom, 73 environmental justice groups called the proposed scoping plan “a setback for the state and the world.”
“It fails to accelerate our 2030 and 2045 climate targets, and it fails to increase the pace of California’s actions beyond existing commitments,” the letter says. “We need a plan that transitions us away from the extractive, fossil-fueled energy system at the pace and scale demanded by climate science and environmental justice.”
The Air Resources Board did not send representatives to speak at either of the two meetings — a joint Senate and Assembly committee hearing and the emissions trading advisory committee. Hundreds of Humboldt County school children participated in this year’s 17th annual Kids Ocean Day event by helping to restore dune habitat at the Mike Thompson Wildlife Area on the South Spit of Humboldt Bay before forming the shape of three ochre sea stars for a picture. POSTED 06.02.22
Photo by J Patrick Cudahy
But in a response to questions from CalMatters, air quality officials said the plan is a “guidance document” and that specific emissions reductions would be detailed when individual regulations are drafted.
“It is not a final document, nor intended to be. It is also not a regulation. It is a guidance document and as such leaves room for new information that may become available later,” said air board spokesperson Dave Clegern.
The debate pits those who want to mandate an end to fossil fuels against those who want an approach that relies more on market incentives and technology.
Read the full story at www.northcoastjournal.com.
–Nadia Lopez/CalMatters
POSTED 06.06.22
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Mall Explosion Arrest: A Eureka man was arrested June 3 on suspicion of detonating an explosive device in a Bayshore Mall parking lot that sent debris flying more than 250 feet, nearly hitting two people, according to the Eureka Police Department. Casey William Moore, 44, was arrested without incident in Arcata and reportedly found in possession of “explosive chemicals, compounds and home-
made fuses.” POSTED 06.06.22
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Pedestrian Killed: The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal early morning collision on June 5 that occurred on U.S. Highway 101 just north of the Bayside Cutoff, where a car struck a pedestrian. According to a press release, a pedestrian, whose name was not immediately released, was struck just after 3 a.m. Driver impairment is not believed to have been a factor.
POSTED 06.06.22
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Recycling Center Closure: Humboldt County residents won’t be able to recycle their electronic waste or Freon appliances, like refrigerators and air conditioning systems, at the Eureka Recycling Center for a while. The Humboldt Waste Management Authority is temporarily closing the center Aug. 1 to relocate it to a different site and transform the current one into an organic waste tipping
floor. POSTED 06.02.22
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Digitally Speaking
339 The number of voting categories in this year’s Best of Humboldt contest. Visit www. boh.northcoastjournal.com to vote on your favorite HumCo people, places and things once per day through June 30.
They Said It
– State Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer in a statement about a California reparations task force study detailing possible lines of redress for Black Californians, including proposals for housing grants, free tuition and a raise to the minimum wage.
Comment of the Week
“Thank you for your fury! I concur.”
– David Oehler commenting on a Journal Facebook post about Jennifer Fumiko Cahill’s June 2 column “It Might Be Time to Get Totally Motherfucking Unhinged” about combating mass shootings and gun violence in the United States. POSTED 06.03.22
