LA County Sustainability & Climate Change Survey. Kate Wright, Project Manager, Local Government Commission

Transcription

1 LA County Sustainability & Climate Change Survey Kate Wright, Project Manager, Local Government Commission

2 With Gas Costs Rising, Farmers Take to Mules Two Tennessee farmers have found an old-fashioned solution to a new problem: Tired of high prices at the gas pump, they've hitched their farming equipment to two mules named Dolly and Molly. -NPR 5/27/08

3 The Future SUV

4 AB 32: CA Global Warming Solutions Act 1st comprehensive program of regulatory market mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions Assigns ARB responsibility to monitor & and reduce GHGe Requires GHGe to 1990 levels by 2020

5 Land Use and Greenhouse Gas

6 Impetus for Baseline Survey AB 32 CA Global Warming Solutions Act Importance of Land-Use decisions Regional partnerships critical to achieve the AB 32 goals Sustainability & Climate Change best addressed regionally

7 Purpose of Survey Determine level of awareness of Climate Change and Sustainability Principles Assess mitigation & adaptation efforts Use results to identify gaps & focus regional efforts

8 Methodology Partnership between Metro, County agencies and Local Government Commission Electronic Survey sent out to all 88 cities, County and 20 Special Public Districts 137 respondents Majority of respondents from local government, mostly staff

9 Sustainability Survey Topics Implementation of Sustainability Elements Climate Change Management Sustainability Implementation Needs Assessment

10 May 28th Participant s Priorities 10 Reducing GHGE Open spaces/parks Energy conservation/mgt Water conservation/mgt Transp/land-use decisions

11 Results

12 LA County Taking Action! Greenhouse Gas Reduction Resolutions Most have either addressed climate change or are planning to. General Plan is the avenue.

13 Sustainability Strategies Document The majority of respondents have or plan to create a sustainability strategies document Department overseeing the following Sustainability areas: Public Works Energy & Resource Conservation, Water Conservation & Management, Fleet sustainability, Congestion Management, Waste Management Planning/Community Development Green buildings, Smart Growth, Social Equity/Environmental Justice Programs

14 Implementation of Sustainability Elements 1. Water conservation & management 2. Energy & Resource conservation 3. Waste management 4. Sustainable fleets 5. Green buildings 6. Smart Growth policies 7. Social Equity programs/ordinances

15 Water Conservation/Management Current Programs: 1. Water efficient irrigation systems 2. Water quality management 3. Water conservation Education Assistance Needed: 1. Implementing Low Impact Development 2. Efficient Landscaping 3. Groundwater protection

16 Energy & Resource Conservation/Management Current Programs: 1. Planting trees on streets and public spaces 2. Preserving open spaces and parks 3. Green product purchasing and procurement Assistance Needed: 1. Green product purchasing and procurement 2. Planting trees on streets and public spaces 3. Preserving open spaces and parks

17 Waste Conservation/Management Current Programs: 1. Citywide administrative recycling programs 2. Special depots for hazardous materials 3. Policies to recycle and re-use materials from construction projects Assistance Needed: 1. Composting Bins 2. Special depots for hazardous materials 3. "Buy Recycled" policy

18 Fleet Sustainability Current Programs: 1. Ensuring proper fleet maintenance 2. Carpooling and/or using hybrids among staff 3. Use of LEDs in traffic lights Assistance Needed: 1. Conversion to hybrids/ plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles 2. Diesel Conversion 3. Implementing Green Maintenance Facilities

19 Green Building Current Programs: 1. Properly recycling/ reusing building demolition waste 2. On-site recycling facilities 3. Compliance with CA's Energy Efficiency Standards Assistance Needed: 1. Installing solar panels 2. Use of recycled building materials 3. Properly recycling/ reusing building demolition waste

20 Smart Growth Current Programs: 1. Infill development in existing urban core 2. Inter-city & inter-regional coordination 3. Mixed-use zoning near transit Assistance Needed: 1. Green streets 2. Providing a range of commuting options 3. Implementing LID design guidelines or incentives

21 Social Equity Current Programs: 1. Engagement of minorities, women & low-income populations 2. Engagement of civic/ labor/ environmental justice groups 3. Providing multi-lingual assistance & inclusion Assistance Needed: 1. Developing economic diversity

22 How Do We Use These Results? As a baseline to track progress Information for Public Outreach Outline of the Region s Best Management Practices Creates a Sense of Urgency for Climate Change advocacy Increase partnership opportunities Develop regional economies of scale Expand programs

23 Path Forward How can all of us regionally move together? Integrated Climate Change Management Regional Sustainability Efforts The results make the case for creating a regional consortium to tackle the following Sustainability Elements Energy Smart Growth Water Other Sustainability Elements are also important and must not be forgotten

24 We live in a democracy, and policies represent our collective will. If we allow the planet to pass tipping points, it will be hard to defend our role. The state of the wild is in our hands, and we can still preserve creation and serve humanity worldwide. -JAMES HANSEN, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

25 Thanks! Kate Wright Local Government Commission