REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Update on Sustainability Program and Provide Feedback on Program Priorities
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote Sustainability and Environmental Protection
BACKGROUND
The need for sustainability and climate action was identified several decades ago. However, in recent years the consequences of climate change have become increasingly severe with an observable impact on all sectors of our society. Additionally, local, regional, national and international momentum demonstrates a more widely accepted recognition that making bold commitments to sustainability and taking action that creates climate solutions is not only needed to support a livable planet, but is also critical for the success of our society and our economy.
Regulations and policy targets around climate action, sustainability, and energy innovation include:
* 2006 Assembly Bill (AB) 32 - California Global Warming Solutions Act aimed at reducing Statewide GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
* California Executive Order (EO) B-30-15 targeted reductions in GHG emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
* 2016 SB 32 expanded on AB 32 by requiring further reduction of GHG emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050.
* 2016 Senate Bill (SB) 1383 - Short Lived Climate Pollutants Strategy targeted organic Waste methane emission reductions establishing targets to achieve a 50 percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020 and a 75 percent reduction by 2025.
* 2018 California EO B-55-18 called for carbon neutrality by 2045.
* 2018 SB 100 - accelerated the State's current Renewables Portfolio Standard program to 50% by 2025, 60% by 2030, and 100% by 2045.
2018 AB 1668 and SB 606 established guidelines for efficient water use and a framework for the implementation and oversight of the new standards.
More recently, the push to reduce carbon through more aggressive measures a...
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