Agenda

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AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABILITY

Meeting Date:	07/31/2017
Subject: DISCUSS Contra Costa County support for the Paris Climate Agreement & RECOMMEND County support the We Are Still In letter & County Climate Coalition
Submitted For:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	N/A
Presenter:	Jody London, DCD	Contact:	Jody London (925)674-7871

Information

Referral History:

N/A

Referral Update:

Local governments around the world, including in the Bay Area, have been taking action to protect the climate since the early 1990’s. Municipal commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been demonstrated through local climate action plans, resolutions, and joint statements for over twenty years, reflecting the view that acting to protect the climate yields a variety of benefits to local communities. Contra Costa County in 2008 adopted a Municipal Climate Action Plan that identifies strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from County operations. In 2015, the County adopted a Climate Action Plan that identifies strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in unincorporated areas across the County, in most sectors of the economy. (The 2015 Climate Action Plan does not address emissions from large stationary sources, which are under the jurisdiction of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.) It sets targets for reductions by 2020 and 2035 that are aligned with the State targets that were in effect at the time the Climate Action Plan was adopted.

President Trump’s announcement on June 1, 2017, that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement has elicited a variety of responses among state and local governments, most notably the rise of public statements expressing solidarity with the rest of the world in support of the Paris Climate Agreement. Several public statements have arisen in direct response to President Trump’s action, and several sign-on efforts that existed prior to June 1 have experienced renewed interest and visibility. Staff has researched the most relevant collective statements, including:

- We Are Still In sign-on letter
- County Climate Coalition
- Under2 Coalition commitment to reduce GHG emissions

Staff recommends that Contra Costa County participate in the We Are Still In sign-on statement and the County Climate Coalition. The We Are Still In sign-on letter (Attachment A) was created in direct response to President Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord. We Are Still In invites interested parties to sign on to a statement to demonstrate that major sub-national leaders in the United States are still committed to ambitious action on climate change. Beyond signing the statement there is no substantive obligation. Signing the We Are Still In letter allows the County to make a strong, public statement on the specific issue of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.

Similarly, the County Climate Coalition (Attachment B) provides an opportunity for only county governments to affirm their commitment to the Paris Climate Accord. Organized by Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, the County Climate Coalition does not require a financial commitment. The organizer envisions the County Climate Coalition will also provide a venue for sharing information between counties about climate protection activities.

Staff further recommends that the Board direct staff to research what would be required for the County to become a signatory to the Under2 Coalition. The Under2 Coalition pre-dates the Paris Climate Accord and highlights the important role that sub-national jurisdictions have been playing in the effort to protect the climate. Signatories to the Coalition sign a “Global Climate Leadership MOU”, committing to reducing GHG emissions at least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Signatories must back up this commitment by demonstrating adopted targets and action plans. A total of 176 jurisdictions worldwide have signed on to the Under2 MOU, including the State of California and the cities of San Francisco and Oakland. Before Contra Costa County could join the Under2 Coalition, the County would have to update its Climate Action Plan to conform with the goals of the Under2 Coalition and identify staff and funding to achieve updated goals.

On July 12, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the formation of America’s Pledge, a new initiative to compile and quantify actions of states, cities, businesses and universities in the U.S. to reduce GHG emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The goal of this new initiative is to aggregate the commitments of the many local “subnational” climate protection activities throughout the U.S. and also spur increased local climate protection efforts. Details of the America’s Pledge initiative are still being developed. Staff will track these efforts to assess whether County participation in this initiative is warranted.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

The Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee should RECOMMEND that the Board of Supervisors: (1) PARTICIPATE in the We Are Still In sign-on statement and the County Climate Coalition, and (2) DIRECT the Director of the Conservation and Development Department, or designee, to research and report back on what would be required for the County to become a signatory to the Under2 Coalition.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

There is no fiscal impact at this time.

Attachments
Attachment A - We Are Still In doc.
Appendix B - County Climate Coalition