Climate change is a confounding problem requiring a global solution. California is a global climate leader, but where do we really stand in terms of reaching our state's climate and clean air goals? 

The truth is that we are falling short. Even with funding from the Cap-and-Trade Program we do not have the resources we need to get there.

This is why Move CA (a project of Move LA) and northern California partner SPUR have begun talking with climate leaders, advocates and experts about developing a statewide ballot measure to provide a major new funding source to invest in emission reductions. 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT OUR FUNDING INITIATIVE ON OUR NEW CLIMATE AND CLEAN AIR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE.

MOVE CA AND SPUR ARE EXPLORING PRIORITIES FOR THIS FUNDING INITIATIVE BY GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM CLIMATE LEADERS AND EXPERTS. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR OUR CLIMATE AND CLEAN AIR ZOOMPOSIUM #2 WITH CLIMATE EXPERTS ON DEC. 3, 10-11:30 A.M.

First we want to make sure the state has enough funding to make the investments needed to reach the greenhouse gas reduction goals set out in the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2018 Special Report on Global Warming—which are roughly equal to the targets California set with the passage of SB 32: to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions 40% below the 1990 level by 2030.

Second we want this funding to also enable all the state’s air districts to meet federal ozone attainment standards and ensure California’s air is clean by 2031.

To reach both these goals we were were told by leaders participating in our first Zoomposium—including California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols, former State Senator Fran Pavley, former State Senate President Pro Tem and now LA City Councilmember Kevin de Leon, and former Secretary of CalEPA Terry Tamminen that our priorities should be to:

• accelerate the deployment of clean transportation technologies, especially zero-emission technologies, and
• aggressively reduce the highly potent but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs)—such as methane, black carbon, tropospheric ozone and hydrofluorcarbons or HFCs—which the IPCC has said is our best path to avoid runaway warming: "Fast and immediate action [on SLCPs] can avoid over half a degree of warming in the Arctic by 2050, thereby significantly decreasing the chances of triggering dangerous climate tipping points, like the irreversible release of carbon dioxide and methane from thawing Arctic permafront."

And third we want social justice and major opportunities for disadvantaged communities to be hard-wired into the investment program—ensuring, for example, that there is a robust cash incentive program so that low-income people can purchase zero-emission vehicles, that charging infrastructure is built in disadvantaged communities, and that there are pathways for good jobs in the green economy.

So please consider joining us Dec. 3, 10-11:30 a.m. for a conversation on Zoom with climate and clean air experts including:

Rajinder Sahota, Assistant Division Chief of the Industrial Strategies Division at the California Air Resources Board: Rajinder Sahota’s responsibilities include management of the Cap-and-Trade Program, the AB32 Scoping Plan, Energy Policy, and she coordinates/collaborates with national and subnational governments pursuing climate mitigation. She also engages in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and other fuel initiatives.

Steven Cliff, Deputy Executive Officer at the California Air Resources Board, oversees programs to reduce mobile source emissions and statewide monitoring and laboratory programs including the vehicle emissions testing and compliance programs, mobile source regulations, engine certification programs, the ambient air quality monitoring network, small engine regulations, and incentive programs. Steve worked on the first AB 32 climate change scoping plan, and led development of the Cap-and-Trade program.

Matt Miyasato, Deputy Executive Officer for Science & Technology Advancement at the South Coast Air Quality Management District: Matt Miyasato is responsible for the SCAQMD’s Technology Advancement Office, Mobile Source Division, and Monitoring and Laboratory Analysis Division. He identifies, evaluates and stimulates development and commercialization of clean air technologies, develops and coordinates mobile source regulations, and conducts ambient monitoring, source testing and laboratory analysis.

John Boesel, President & CEO of CALSTART: CALSTART is a strategic broker and catalyst, and includes more than 260 member companies, offices in four states, and policy directors in Washington DC and Sacramento. CALSTART works with its member companies and policymakers to make the air clean for all and to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector across the U.S. by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.