Climate Change

The Global Warming Solutions Act

Overview

SCAG is addressing the climate change challenge through implementation of recent State legislation. In 2006, Assembly Bill No. 32 (AB 32), the California Global Warming Solutions Act, passed into law requiring that statewide GHG emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020. This would represent reducing about 30 percent from business-as-usual emission levels projected for 2020. On December 11, 2008, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted a comprehensive Scoping Plan outlining the state’s strategy to achieve the 2020 GHG emission reduction target.

Sustainable Communities & The Climate Protection Act of 2008

Senate Bill No. 375 (SB 375), effective January 2009, also intends to implement a portion of AB 32 to reduce the GHG emissions from the use of autos and light trucks through land use and VMT Reduction policies. In addition, as a long-term statewide goal, Governor’s Executive Order (S-3-05) requires that by 2050 California reduce GHG emissions to 80 percent below the 1990 level.

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Climate Equity Compendium

The Climate Equity Compendium provides resources for local planners in the SCAG region to advocate for and implement equitable and actionable solutions for their jurisdictions’ climate adaptation efforts. SCAG developed the Compendium in partnership with more than 60 local jurisdictions, focusing on the major concerns of climate adaptation for local agencies: providing resources to assist with staff and funding shortages, removing barriers to relevant data and resources and overcoming the challenges of effective, equitable outreach. SCAG will continue to update the Climate Equity Compendium as the challenges of climate equity evolve. 

Read the Climate Equity Compendium

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Climate Resilient Urban Greening Best Practices

The changing climate will impact Southern California in several ways, including more days with extreme heat, rising sea levels, more frequent wildfires and shifting precipitation rates. With this reality, urban greening, and urban trees in particular, can play a key role in improving community health, mobility, and overall quality of life, and achieving greenhouse gas emissions goals. SCAG outlines urban greening as the greening of developed areas within Southern California communities that can benefit from cooling strategies to reduce urban heat island effects and extreme heat.

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Regional Climate Adaptation Framework

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The Southern California Association of Governments is pleased to be developing a Regional Climate Adaptation Framework, which assists local and regional jurisdictions in managing the negative impacts of climate change.

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Climate & Economic Development Project

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Working together to identify a range of options to meet the region’s needs for equitable economic development, pollution reduction, housing and transportation planning.

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Adaptation

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Climate change mitigation means reducing or sequestering greenhouse gases, whereas adaptation is preparing for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

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Mitigation

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Climate change mitigation includes actions taken to reduce the amount of GHG being added to the atmosphere in order to reduce the effects of climate change.