As you may know, Move CA (a project of Move LA) is working with our Northern California partner SPUR on the California Climate and Clean Air Initiative. We are convening discussions with California’s climate and clean air advocates and experts, with the goal of identifying a major new public funding source to invest in strategies that will ensure maximum and accelerated reductions in transportation emissions, both air pollution and greenhouse gases. We believe a statewide ballot measure is a viable option to achieve this goal. Visit the Climate and Clean Air Initiative website to learn more about, and follow, this effort. 

At our first Zoomposium on this subject in October, climate and clean air leaders advised us that the transportation sector provides the biggest and most immediate challenge because it produces 40% of California’s GHG emissions and 90% of the air pollution in our most polluted communities. It is perhaps also our biggest opportunity because zero-emission battery and hydrogen options are rapidly emerging across multiple new transportation arenas.

We were also told that California needs “a boatload of money”—as California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols described it—to achieve the state’s climate goals: to reduce GHGs 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050. (This would also enable us to meet the 2018 IPCC Report on Global Warming’s goal of 45% reductions below 2010 levels, also by 2030.)

We have 2 other major goals besides funding accelerated deployment of clean transportation technologies—we want to dramatically reduce short-lived climate pollutants or SLCPs, and also ensure that social equity and creating major opportunities for disadvantaged communities are hardwired into our investment program. We’ll be bringing more advocates and experts to the table in coming months to help us determine the best path forward.

REGISTER NOW FOR OUR ZOOMPOSIUM ON THURSDAY, DEC. 3, FROM 10-11:30 A.M., BECAUSE CHECK OUT OUR PANEL (BELOW)!

Most of our panelists are experts in the development of new technology for clean cars, trucks, off-road equipment, charging and fueling infrastructure, and the best investment strategies for accelerating deployment of new transportation technologies. We will be asking them questions such as the ones below (and more):

• What are the smartest investments California could make to reduce both climate emissions and air pollution from the transportation sector?
• What are the biggest opportunities—and challenges—to advance clean transportation technologies, and how can we design an investment program to both take advantage of the opportunities and address the challenges?

TUNE IN THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 10-11:30 A.M.—REGISTER HERE—TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH:

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, development of the AB32 Scoping Plan to reduce greenhouse gases, 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 on 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 for advanced clean transportation technologies. CALSTART includes more than 260 member companies, has 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.

Dawn Wilson, was Director of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability at Southern California Edison until recently, where she was responsible for developing an environmental strategy that integrated environmental policy, natural resources and public lands, and transportation electrification. She also administered SCE’s Corporate Responsibility Program. 

Kevin Maggay is a Program Manager at SoCalGas where he focuses on transportation policy and strategy with government agencies, industry groups and stakeholders.  Previously he was Assistant Director of Environmental Operations at BNSF Railway and the Air Quality Supervisor at the Port of Los Angeles. He is also an instructor in the California State University Long Beach Global Logistics Program. 

Todd Campbell, Vice President of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Clean Energy Fuels, one of North America’s leaders in clean transportation technology. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Coalition for Clean Air, where he had previously served as Policy and Science Director. He is an environmental and transportation expert, and a former mayor and city councilmember in Burbank.

Raj Dhillon is Senior Manager of Advocacy & Public Policy for Breathe Southern California, an environmental health nonprofit organization that focuses on air quality and lung health issues. Raj advocates for legislation to improve lung health and works on strategies to increase the number of clean medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Previously Raj worked in the office of Sen. Robert Hertzberg.

Susana Reyes serves on the Sierra Club Executive Board and is Volunteer Co-Lead of the Clean Transportation for All campaign. She is also a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and previously served as a Senior Sustainability Analyst in the Office of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, where she helped implement the first Sustainable City Plan—a roadmap to the city’s environmental, economic, and equitable future.