Sacramento and Energy - A Citizen Visits

Last week, I had my first glimpse of Sacramento and how the regulatory, legislative process works.

Here's the short version of my experience, plus a few comments.

Tuesday at UC-Davis
-Rosenfeld Symposium, or more descriptive "California Rock Stars Discuss Our Energy Future"

The word 'awesome', as in inspiring awe, fits.   Billed as a Symposium in honor physicist Art Rosenfeld, the father of energy efficiency in California and the world, this event was a who's who of scientists, smart regulators, leaders in California; some of the best of the best.

As expected, I hung on every word from scientists I knew Dan Kammen (hubs, universities too  convservative, everthing!?), Mark Levine (China - appliance standards have saved equivalent of another 3 Gorges Dam) , Rich Muller (Physics for Presidents - showed ICCP errors which would not be tolerated in a grad student) and many people I didn't know before: Dan Sperling (2 Billion Cars), David Goldstein ("continuous improvement", free market best?) and, of course, Art Rosenfeld, happily pointing out whose roofs in Washington, DC are cool (white) and whose are not; and several others.  [I hope their will be a video plus speaker's slides.]

Something I did not appreciate when I studied physics is how much honest insight these people offer in so few words but with backing of data.

Dian Grueniech, of the CPUC, known as a dynamo and who with Art Rosenfeld has visited and studied China and India, stressed long-term planning, investment in efficiency, CalSpree and the need for changing behavior, and made a clear call for new thinking.  I liked that.

Dan Adler, California Clean Energy Fund,  spoke of need for science-based policy and offered some reasons why VC investment in energy-efficiency has been insufficient, despite the clear benefit.  Insightful.

But Susan Kennedy, chief-of-staff for the governor, gave a thoughtful and forceful speech, again stressing urgent need for comprehensive policy, followed by action.   Only afterwards I learned she is master of bad press, i.e.  she gets things done - including Policy, I hope.

My favorite politician, Nancy Skinner, Berkeley's assemblywomen, spoke and so did several other scientists, regulators - almost all with some important, relevant, insightful idea and data.   I appreciated the high information content.   Of course, we must always watch that actions follow words.

Some of the things I came away with are need for 'energy hubs', data, policy, tough standards do work, and of course some of the many achievements of Art Rosenfeld.  In his honor, energy savings that reduce the need for 1 new coal fired power plant (~ 500 MW) will be called 1 Rosenfeld.   And, "Rosenfeld's Law" is that for the past 150 years, energy intensity has been reduced approximately 1% per year - but now we  need to do better.

Wednesday, I was at California Energy Commission

CEC - meeting

I arrived 17 minutes late and it was over.   Fortunately, the court reporter played back the audio for me - a fuel-cell grant to UC-Irvine and others.  I will arrive on time next time; the opportunity to hear, learn and ask questions about the future is just too great to miss.

I did attend a CEC workshop re: Contracting with CEC/PIER for Disabled Veterans, and learned quite a bit  from Michael Gravely and Philip Misemer about what exactly PIER research is about -  the nuts and bolts - from new combustion chambers to smart grid software to buoys to capture ocean waves.

Unfortunately, I failed in another of my objectives - to understand how CEC responds when a local government  asks for ARRA grant that appears to lack policy (ex: when 'highest priority' is to install LED lights (good) in a parking garage (bad!)) 

Thursday, I was at California EPA/Air Resources Board

-SB 375 (land use and transportation)
Bill Blackburn and Doug ito of ARB spent an hour with me and illumunated a bit of the process to a greenhorn; the occasional divide between state and various local air boards; the process for SB 375 and their plans to draft GHG targets by June 2010.  Policy into action is not easy.   Under SB 375, local governments are going to need to formulate policy - and this is a process we must all engage in.

ARB - 375

http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/sb375/sb375.htm

-China and California
Another failure for me.

Despite California's numerous MOUs, official visits to China and a pressing need to engage with China, I was disappointed with my meeting with Margaret Kim, director of China Program, who steered me away from C3, the MOUs and other energy/policy activities between California and China and its provinces.

Perhaps this is really all my fault: Ms. Kim may be speaking on behalf of ecolinx.org, a private group, i.e. none of business, which she founded, while  I thought we were discussing China and State of California (i.e. you and me).  Ecolinx, which didn't come up in the hour long conversation, does appear to do very relevant energy things between China  and California that I thought the State was doing ( trips, cooperation, Steering Committees, Guangdong MOU (note who funds), JIangsu MOU (6 months later and ?) and now C3, part of the Jiangsu MOU - at least it was the week before).


There is a need here for transparency, urgency, inclusiveness and true engagement with China from California ARB and Secretary Linda Adams - not more China visits or presentations with titles referencing 'public participation'!

I plan to blog in more detail about our engagement with China.   I lived in China 5+ years and think Americans can learn much from China about a low-carbon economy (fresh, sun-dried clothes anyone? Or, air-conditioned buses in March in Santa Cruz.)

Climate Action Team

Staying in tune with tardiness, I missed the first 45 minutes.   But I did hear a good presentation about health concerns from climate change.  The speaker proposed using VMT as a rough indication of how California is progressing on goals of health and mitigating climate change and had interesting geographical data.

Climate Action Team Meeting
(http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=418&year=2010&month=3)

Report: https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/climate_action_team/meetings/2010-03-11_meeting/2010-03-11_CAT_Strategy_Listings.pdf

Again, the opportunity to hear, question and meet experts is too great to pass up.

Afterward, I spoke briefly with James Boyd of CEC, who in just a few sentences explained a lot of why things are the way they are - difficulties of coordinating state and local governments when implementing policy; the CEC's work.  I appreciate his straight, informed answers.  There may be wisdom in Sacramento.

Friday was  furlough day, and Sacramento turns into a ghost town.
Doug Grandy, publisher of California Onsite Generation and veteran staff, generously spent over an hour explaining how Sacramento works, how bills get passed and who controls what.

Cory Jasperson was working and we spoke  about energy policy.  I hope he will focus on comprehensive energy policy legislation.  (And ignore industry when it lobbies for things like fake butter on popcorn, an incident he described to me.)

So, what to do now?

Read these reports
-CPUC strategic plan
-CEC recommendations ( 2020 - net zero homes, renewable portfolio, accelerated permitting of RE, biomass and air pollution, combined heat/power)
-ARB goals for the year (cap & trade, passenger vehicles, RPS, efficiency, low-carbon fuel, SB375)

Find out who is doing:
-China
-Energy Hubs
-Policy and its implementation

Sacramento works from an invisible agenda.  If you ask about X and the focus is on Y, you will get a lot stares.  

I saw a number of hard-working, thinking people in Sacramento at CEC, CPUC, and ARB and beyond.   Some really do work for us, but we have a responsibility to be check and to help.  I want to thank everyone who gave me time, explained things and to Mr. Rosenfeld, who seems to have really started something.

And so I have decided to spend a few more weeks in Sacramento.

'Plan B' - California Preparing to Adapt?

In early December, pre-Copenhagen, the San Francisco Chronicle ran a lead story about California's efforts to plan for - not mitigate - the results of climate change.

Following a recommendation of the new report "California Climate Change Adaption Strategy - 2009" , the Governor in December created a new 23-person State's Climate Change Advisory Panel (CCAP) to make specific suggestions and recommendations in 6 months, by July 2010, especially to prepare for:

1. Increased wildfires and extended fire seasons.
2. Rising sea levels along 1,100 miles of coastline.
3. Reduced availability of water with reduced snow pack in the Sierras and extended periods of drought.

To visualize climate risks in the State, Google is preparing "Cal-Adapt" (prototype for Windows or Mac only)

Downtown Santa Cruz, built on a flood plain, was singled out as an area of risk in the released report (page 68)

"For example, the City of Santa Cruz has a levee system that protects some low-lying parts of the city against a 100-year flood. With a sea-level rise of approximately one foot, the anticipated 100-year flood event in Santa Cruz is expected to occur every 10 years, increasing the likelihood of storm-related inundation."

[Source: PIER Research Report, CEC-500-2009-014-F - Page 30:

"... By 2050, sea level rise, relative to the 2000 level, ranges from 30 cm to 45 cm. As sea level rises, there will be an increased rate of extreme high sea level events (Figure 19 and Table 7), which occur during high tides, often when accompanied by winter storms and sometimes exacerbated by El Niño occurrences (Cayan et al. 2008c). Importantly, as decades proceed, these simulations also contain an increasing tendency for heightened sea level events to persist for more hours, which would seem to imply a greater threat of coastal erosion and other damage. Virtually all of the increase in frequency and magnitude of sea level exceedances can be ascribed to the underlying secular increase in mean sea level.... "]

Here is the article SF Chronicle (12/3/09)

Also a blog report here from Legal Planet (UC Berkeley and UCLA - Law Schools)

Useful Reading:

FAQ (from past summer) - best thing to read - note: SFO underwater

A number of very useful, interactive maps (Pacific Institute)

And a Pacific Institute Report on Sea level rise. Full Report

SC 100 year flood: (Pacific Institute)

Climate Action, plastic bags Board of Supervisors, Nov 3

Received an email from Ross Clark, City of Santa Cruz's Climate Coordinator, the year 2008 Climate Greenhouse inventory report would be ready "any day" now.

Another report, the City's Climate Action Plan is in draft form (private?) and will available "soon after the new year."

At this morning's County Board of Supervisors Meeting most of the discussion was about Arana Gulch Master Plan, which calls for an asphalt bicycle lane that an EIR says will cause serious harm to a rare, endangered plant. The issue has divided the environmental community, but appears to have the votes to pass, Supervisor Mark Stone asked for time to review the information.

I spoke for 3 minutes during Open session re: Climate Change, thanking Supervisor Coonerty for the Oct 24 proclamation as International Day of Climate Action. But I stressed the need now for action, before the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December:

• full disclosure/full transparency of all the data, goals, reports that the County has, even if not complete, such vehicle miles traveled, energy use, ICLEI draft reports, etc. and referred to my September 25, 2009 letter
• Asked that by Thanksgiving, finish what they have, release whatever they have and start to act
• By act, I refered to UK's 10:10, Bablyon, NY's 12x12, Secretary Chu's "low-lying fruit", read "Moving Cooler" report even if they don't like it
• Also, start educating and engaging the public. If adults can not calculate the CO2 released by driving to the mall, teach our children to.
• Other ideas (before I ran out of time): 1 day a week "no car", green roofs (not just solar) and stressed again the need to act, not send to committees, task forces, etc. the science has changed.

I was disappointed with Supervisor Stone's plastic bag initative which was sent to COE and Public Works to draft an ordinance (and return in 6 months) After the meeting ending, he said it would be better if State of California acts on this. I asked him why he couldn't write the ordinance? Is Santa Cruz so different from the other municipalities working on this? He seemed to fear "litigation."

I also asked him about banning single-use coffee cups, but he smiled and said one issue at a time.

More on plastic in Linda Fridy's Mid-County Post article.

My own thoughts:
One issue at a time? How much time does our local government think we have? 6 months to write an ordinance?? And I also thought "single-use" was an adjective, so I immediately began to think: what else is "single-use" in everyday life? After all, "single-use" is a relatively new idea. Before McDonald's, ok before Michael Jackson, we didn't throw everything away after 1 use - I can remember that.

Climate Action Exihibit - at Santa Cruz Public Library

For the month of November,  the Santa Cruz Public Library will have a collection of books and information about Climate Change and how you can be involved, such as with the City's Climate Action Teams.

I just finished "Climate Solutions - What Works, What Doesn't and Why" by Peter Barnes, one of the books to be on display.  It's a small book, quite clearly written and can be read in couple of hours.  It is really about options in Carbon Caps and Trade, since Barnes dismisses a carbon tax, carbon rationing and zeroes in reasons for Carbon cap, which he does explain very clearly.

In summary, he explains the reason for a Carbon cap with all of the following, and why:

• cap it and issue permits, the number which decreases annually
• permits must be auctioned (not given away) to 'legacy' polluters
  
• cap it "upstream", i.e. when it is first sold, not at each smokestack
• no offsets or safety valves, or leaks, when we 'cheat' and then try to atone by purchasing something good from an unregulated market
• cap all the carbon, including carbon emissions represented by imports
• distribute revenue back to households to mitigate cost of increased price of carbon 

He goes a step further to talk about the idea of 'commons.'   Carbon permits can be extended worldwide, with revenue flowing back to the projects for the 'commons' or distributed to countries.  A basis must be included for the total of amount of carbon a country has put into the atmosphere, about 28% of it from the US.

Given the author's ability to communicate the issues concisely, I recommend reading the book whether you agree or not with his solutions.

Climate Action Day in Santa - How and Why

Unity, Awareness, Climate Action in SC - October 24, 2009


==
Today's developments are below, but please read this:

I've gotten a number of emails with questions so I want to explain how I envision October and why.

First the how part:

As in other cities on International Climate Action Day, Santa Cruz can have numerous events/activities/teach-ins with Climate Day theme.  Every organization, club, school, church in town can do so  (tree-planting, teach-ins, children's activities, hikes, picnics, religious service etc.).  Of course, you do it under your own 'flag', just do something that honors Climate Day and our urgent need to act collectively. Can be public or private.  If public, please post it on350.org and facebook group  I'd like to see UCSC, Cabrillo, schools do similar things; again as independent entities.  Every citizen should be involved.

The public can go to 1 or many of these activities.  It is a day of Unity; we put aside our differences. (more below)

Morning:  This when I envision most of these independent activities occuring.

Afternoon:
March down Pacific Avenue to Town Clock.  At Clock, there will tables where various groups can hand out literature.   People Power will arrange a (fair) trial of one of man's most popular inventions.  Then there will a rally, with speakers drawn from community leaders, environmental leaders, scientists, etc.  Not boring speeches, but speeches which explain the peril we face and what, collectively, we must do.  I think it would be great to have a large TV screen to see events elsewhere in the world.

Evening:
Independent activities continue, but I understand their are other important events, scheduled long ago.


Now the why part:

I can stir the pot, but not much more.   But you can do much more  - you have organizations here, work here, live here, have children here, sit on government boards.  I don't.   I appeal to you  to act.  Nobody else can do it; all 200,000 people in this county must act.   Do not wait.  You don't need my permission or anybody else's. 

Santa Cruz must have 1000 groups dedicated to very good causes.  But I did not see much activity scheduled for Oct 24 on 350.org and so I asked around, still nothing.   I do this because I feel I must; nobody appointing me; nobody asked me.   I ask for Unity because, as an outsider to Santa Cruz, I don't see as much collaboration as I had thought. 
I can stir the pot, but not much more.   But you can do much more  - you have organizations here, work here, live here, have children here, sit on government boards.  I don't.   I appeal to you  to act.  Nobody else can do it; all 200,000 people in this county must act.   Do not wait.  You don't need my permission or anybody else's. 

And just who am I?  I belong to no group, have no organization or money.  I am the beardless, slightly unkempt guy carrying around 3 heavy bags, from coffee house to coffee house, intently reading month old newspapers (thanks Steve)  I spent almost 6 years in China and now I do not recognize or understand my own country or people.  I am nobody.  I spent 6 years telling the Chinese people, many of whom eagerly want to leave China for 'a better life', which the newspapers don't report, that they must fix their own country first.   Now it time for me to help fix my own.

I didn't pick October 24.   I didn't pick Climate Change.  I don't make the rules.  You can change the vision of the day, but I'd like to stick with "Unity, Awareness and Climate Action."


If we are  going to make October 24 happen, we need many events and I  will need  help, too.
-coordinate independent activities
-coordinate rally and march
-etc etc

Thanks.
==

Latest Developments (Oct 5)
-Sentinel posts Event
-lot of tweeting going - hope to go viral soon
-Beau of San Lorenzo High has taken over the Facebook page - and doing great - thanks!!
-people from Toronto, Bulgaria, elsewhere sending us support and local contacts
-Transition Santa Cruz on board
-Arcata, CA redwood event here.
-Google Climate Tools
-Letter from Gregory Bondi (below), who is working with Greg Archer on GT article

Tasks to be done:
-co-ord rally & march
-co-ord speakers & info tables
-AM activities
-publicity, posters,
-social media

Received a great letter from Greg Bondi, who sees the urgency and is also eager create Climate Day in SC.  (thx Collette)

Unity, Awareness, Climate Action in Santa Cruz

A few people wondered if there is enough time to prepare for October 24.
My Answer:   We have no time remaining to debate about climate change - we need to act.

A few others said they support the effort but are busy with children, or other important activities.
My Answer: 
Of course, these are important.   But if there is no planet, what's the point?
What do you think you're kids will say to you in 20 years?   On the 24th, I like see our children learn how to do important energy and carbon dioxide calculations so they can guide us in making decisions.

When I say "no planet" this is technically wrong.   The planet has seen plenty of hot and cold before - it is not going anywhere; not going to disappear.  It about us.

Saturday, October 3, 2009 

-Beau, from Eco Club at SLV High School, is on board and eager to help, esp. with a rally (thx Beau, good email)

-Jenny, a UCSC intern from Chancellor's Climate Change Counsel wrote to say she's working on activities for Oct 24, as well as campus Climate Action Plan.   She's eager to coordinate with us and students, faculty, staff;  and we will (thx Jenny)

-Article about Seattle, LA and other efforts of other cities to reduce GHG. Calls for federal government to reduce GHG by 7% by 2012 (1990 baseline, i.e. Kyoto).  It's too little.  http://bit.ly/LATimes01

- Debra of Rainbow Action Network and I are playing telephone tag; they are trying to build more of presence in Santa Cruz.   At the moment, their focus is to stop  mountain top coal blasting, terrible devastation, more in Coming Clean , by their executive director, which is very direct and easy to read, also recommends this EPA link to see sources of energy for electricity in Santa Cruz.

-EPA - has been coming to life.   Good information; check the interactive map of environmental issues in Santa Cruz.  Benzene?

-Need more data?  Pew Climate Change website has good, balanced information - study this chart.  Then tell us why we can wait.

What you can do:

1. Discuss Climate Change with your community, group, or family
2. Post an event for October 24 at 350.org
3. Sign the UN Petition: Seal the Deal!
4. Stay involved, please use one or more of the following:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/350-Santa-...
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=23463...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/scgreenwatch

What kind of events for October 24?   Here's what's happening in Denver.
It can be anything you like, potlucks, garden walk, religious service, teach-in.

Please keep 2-4 pm open for joint activity

Oct 24 - Update October 2

Dear All:
[If you wish to be removed from this list, just let me know - apologies.]

Status: Oct 24  - International Climate Action Day

L.A. County Board of Supervisors "strongly urges" all 10 million residents of L.A. County 2 attend Oct 24 SouthBay 350 Climate action in MB!    (more below on LA)

-Two important NY Times articles today
-NY Times Editorial, (10/2/09) One Way or the Other - discusses Sen Boxer's legislation, EPA and Copenagen,
-Economics of Climate Stabilization, refers to 350.org  and discusses latest study that economic impact can be minimal, note call for biochar
-Spoke with Sen Boxer's office about our efforts and could appropriate staff person come on Oct 24 to discuss with our citizens, letter here.  (facebook)
-Send email to several faculty and staff at UCSC, Cabrillo, CSUMB - inquiring about 'teach-ins' more here
-Made a dozen or so phone calls to environmental groups (thx to County for assistance); several groups very interesting and things are snowballing
-Santa Cruz Public Library will host Book Exhibit on Climate Change, I will put together a list suggestions?  (Book collection in your school?)
-Trying to PG&E re: Oct 24 participation (thx Dan Haifley)
-another Oct 24 event in motion: Santa Cruz Vegetarians
-Cheryl of Vegetarians has offered to help and coordinate with other groups.
-Los Angeles, South Bay 350 - wishes us the "best", Look at what's happening
County of Los Angeles generously agreed today to supply buses for park and ride @ Manhattan Beach 350 Climate Action! HUGE help, Thanks LAC!  (Les White - ?)
-several others have offered to volunteer, but a few are confused that, in other cities, each organization is making its own events, posting them on 350.org.   Perhaps, then, some one like me is merely coordinating and pushing it along.  In others words, I don't belong to any group, I don't have any events, I just want others to do so!

What you can do:

1. Discuss Climate Change with your community, group, or family
2. Post an event for October 24 at 350.org
3. Sign the UN Petition: Seal the Deal!
4. Stay involved, please use one or more of the following:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/350-Santa-...
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=23463...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/scgreenwatch

What kind of events for October 24?   Here's what's happening in Denver.
It can be anything you like, potlucks, garden walk, religious service, teach-in.

Please keep 2-4 pm open for joint activity.

Meeting with Santa County Superviser Neal Coonerty

At this  morning's meeting, Supervisor Coonerty offered to prepare a proclamation that October 24, 2009 be a day of International Day Climate Action  (Letter at bottom; Move to come ...) (

On this Day, I hope all the citizens of Santa Cruz County unite in support of our planet and take action to reduce the dangerously high level of CO2 level already in the atmosphere.  It is not a political issue, and not something government alone can solve.

Together, I would like to see teach-ins, religious services, community and neighborhood actions in every part of Santa Cruz County.

More info about Santa Cruz & October 24, 2009

350.org (<-- view &  add your event here)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/350-Santa-...

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=23463...

Twitter: http://twitter.com/scgreenwatch

Here is what Denver is doing
San Francisco
San Jose
City of Albuquerque:
Council of Churches - Santa Clara
Los Angeles - Beach
A walker in Oregon
Portland
Seattle (facebook)
Vermont (facebook)

Letter to Supervisor Coonerty of Santa Cruz County

(Next post will discuss the September 30, 2009 Meeting)

September 25, 2009

Dear Supervisor Coonerty:

I am not a political person, but the need for swift action on climate change has drawn me closer to our government.   Unfortunately, the government actions and approaches I have seen, admittedly limited observations, are significantly unequal to the challenge.   You are correct that you can't just make rules, nor can I.   Our planet does not care about such issues. 

What this meeting is about is to find ways now to meet the challenge in Santa Cruz County.  Again, nature does not negotiate.

With 72 days until Copenhagen, this is my suggestion.  I think there can actually be many positive benefits.

1. (immediate) Full disclosure and full transparency of all data, documents, targets, deadlines, risks, open issues, etc related to energy use, transportation and eCO2 emissions in Santa Cruz county.  If you ("you" means county or local government) do not have information:  say it clearly.
2. (immediate) Appeal to all  families, community groups, churches, non-profits, schools, grocery stores, homeless, universities, even your enemies to encourage immediate vigorous debate, ideas and action  on climate change.  Give people the power to talk on street corners; to become truly informed citizens.  Intelligently, use all the resources of our talented, diverse community to plan, innovate, educate, act; we all know this much bigger than government.  (more below)  Let every child know how to calculate the CO2 emisssions from the family car and feel the work it takes to run a house for a hour (stair master isn't enough!).
   
3. (before Thanksgiving of this year) Completion, verification, full public disclosure of all Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, energy use  and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in Santa Cruz County, both for baseline year and current.  Do this as per ICLEI protocols, or the most aggressive recognized methods in the international community. 
   
4. (before Thanksgiving of this year) Adoption of immediate, aggressive eCO2 reduction targets.   Borrow ideas from other communities; we need action. 10x10 (10% reduction by 12/31/10), 12x12 etc.  Seal the Deal!
   
5. (October 24, 2009) Urge huge Santa Cruz rally (use buses), teach-ins, education, commitment on International Climate Action Day
   
6. (Thanksgiving of this year) Deliver focused, clear, accurate materials, videos, websites, outreach programs, goals to engage every organization and family in this community.  Be ready for what comes back; and keep the focus on action.
7. (UN: Climate Change Conference - Copenhagen)   Show the local results to prove Santa Cruz County is a world leader. 
8. (December 1, 2010 - on)  Measure and present the results; keep our community focused and the acting; and always do what is necessary without delay.  Never adjourn with out action.   And, apologies if pedantic, never attempt to fool nature; never.
   

In a sentence, I am calling upon you, the supervisors and the government of Santa Cruz County to lead, to govern - not merely manage, by demonstrating urgency, openness, unity, political will and utter determination to get CO2 down now and every year following.    Find a way.   There is just no more time.


Thank you.

72 Days to UN Climate Conference: Santa Cruz Library to have Exhibit

Suggestions welcome: 

In honor of UN Climate Conference in December, the Santa Cruz Public library has asked me to help organize a collection of books, posters, photographs in both the children's section and main floor. I have ideas, but open to... everyone's thoughts. 

Should it shock or just educate; how to engage and not preach?

Letter to Supervisor Coonerty of Santa Cruz County

 Sent by email.
I will meet with him on September 30 for 1/2 hour.

 9/25/2009
 
Dear Supervisor Coonerty:

I am not a political person, but the need for swift action on climate change has drawn me closer to our government.   Unfortunately, the government actions and approaches I have seen, admittedly limited observations, are significantly unequal to the challenge.   You are correct that you can't just make rules, nor can I.   Our planet does not care about such issues. 

What this meeting is about is to find ways now to meet the challenge in Santa Cruz County.  Again, nature does not negotiate.

With 72 days until Copenhagen, this is my suggestion.  I think there can actually be many positive benefits.

1. (immediate) Full disclosure and full transparency of all data, documents, targets, deadlines, risks, open issues, etc related to energy use, transportation and eCO2 emissions in Santa Cruz county.  If you ("you" means county or local government) do not have information:  say it clearly.
2. (immediate) Appeal to all  families, community groups, churches, non-profits, schools, grocery stores, homeless, universities, even your enemies to encourage immediate vigorous debate, ideas and action  on climate change.  Give people the power to talk on street corners; to become truly informed citizens.  Intelligently, use all the resources of our talented, diverse community to plan, innovate, educate, act; we all know this much bigger than government.  (more below)  Let every child know how to calculate the CO2 emisssions from the family car and feel the work it takes to run a house for a hour (stair master isn't enough!).
   
3. (before Thanksgiving of this year) Completion, verification, full public disclosure of all Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, energy use  and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in Santa Cruz County, both for baseline year and current.  Do this as per ICLEI protocols, or the most aggressive recognized methods in the international community. 
   
4. (before Thanksgiving of this year) Adoption of immediate, aggressive eCO2 reduction targets.   Borrow ideas from other communities; we need action. 10x10 (10% reduction by 12/31/10), 12x12 etc.  Seal the Deal!
   
5. (October 24, 2009) Urge huge Santa Cruz rally (use buses), teach-ins, education, commitment on International Climate Action Day
   
6. (Thanksgiving of this year) Deliver focused, clear, accurate materials, videos, websites, outreach programs, goals to engage every organization and family in this community.  Be ready for what comes back; and keep the focus on action.
7. (UN: Climate Change Conference - Copenhagen)   Show the local results to prove Santa Cruz County is a world leader. 
8. (December 1, 2010 - on)  Measure and present the results; keep our community focused and the acting; and always do what is necessary without delay.  Never adjourn with out action.   And, apologies if pedantic, never attempt to fool nature; never.
   

In a sentence, I am calling upon you, the supervisors and the government of Santa Cruz County to lead, to govern - not merely manage, by demonstrating urgency, openness, unity, political will and utter determination to get CO2 down now and every year following.    Find a way.   There is just no more time.


Thank you.

Books, Climate Change, Municipalies, ICLEI and "The Leftmost City"

What can you read about Climate Change?

An excellent book to start with is The Atlas of Climate Change which is filled with a clear selection of data, charts, maps to illustration the changes occuring now (Greeland's melting ice), science (CO2 rise to historic heights), risks (countries at risk for flooding, storms, etc), Kyoto, how we will have to adapt.  Slightly below Scientic American level and accessible from high school and up.  Very clear survey, very relevant.

If you like more about science of the atmosphere and climate change, consider Climate Change - The point of no return.      

Here is a recent article by same author, Mojib Latif, a well-known climate scientist, discussing problems communicating science.

The WorldWatch Institute produces an annual State of the World,   
a readable, but a bit more advanced collection of articles on numerous topics related to climate change, technology, agricultural practices, specific countries. An article about shifting to growing perennial plants, rather annuals to sequester carbon is intriguing.

If you like case studies and examples of municipal government and communities taking action in the US, Local Action from ICLEI  is very accessible choice, especially for Portland and Fort Collins, Colorado.

If you are not a scientist, but enjoy good writing The Best American Science and Nature Writing has very good collection of the year's best magazine articles, cover the environment [although I liked the one about cooking eggs at a fixed temperature, to bring out flavor of each protein, rather than old fashioned boiling!]

Even a good daily newspaper will have frequent reports of science reports.

And, since this is Santa Cruz, I want to include "The Leftmost City" about local politics.  However, I am deeply concerned that climate warming is too important, albeit too dangerous, to be handled in normal political fashion.

350 ppm and what Santa Cruz can do: 10 x 10

There is growing evidence that even a  2 degree Centigrade warming will have significant consequences for our earth.  While we debate, the amount of atmospheric carbon is increasing yearly by 2%, now over 380 ppm, and will cause us to pass tipping points sooner than we thought. . 

So the logic is that even if we cut CO2 emissions 2%  per year, once thought acceptable (i.e. 80% reduction by 2050) it will be too little, too late. Climate changes occur slowly decades after the cause; we are crossing "tipping points."   Here is some of the science behind 350 ppm.

79 Days to Copenhagen!

The 350 target is new, based on recent science, and growing in support.   The older targets of 80% by 2050 are now considered obsolete by a growing number.

What can Santa Cruz do?  

There is emerging grassroots movement of "10 x 10".   Reduce CO2 by 10% in 1 year (12/31/2010) and then 10% each additional year.  This includes driving 10% fewer miles each year ("vehicle miles traveled", VMT)

Please keep October 24 open, the International Day of Climate Action.  Details later.




Here is more about 350 ppm

Climate Code Red



Here is a UK call for 10 x 10
UK's Call for 10x10 (reduce 10% by 12/31/10)

Jackson Hole,  Wyoming, 10 x 10

Sign the UN petition:
Seal the Deal:

"Seal the Deal" - 86 days to Copenhagen Climate Conference

Copenhagen Climate Conference

Formally known as COP15, the Copenhagen Conference (December 7-18, 2009) must unite the world on emissions reduction post-2012.

Arguably, this will be one of the most important world conferences ever to be held. But, no deal is guaranteed.

Something can and must be done at every level.

For us, as individuals, please sign the UN petition "Seal the Deal"

It's quick and the UN won't spam you.

Next, check on your local government. Santa Cruz (city and country) are members of ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability).

In preparation for Copenhagen ICLEI has world-wide City Climate Catalog (background info)

Here is Santa Cruz's entry in ICLEI

Here is Entire city catalog (your city listed?)
More information about California.

More about Santa Cruz, more about Santa Cruz County

Thanks to Ross Clark, city of Santa Cruz Climate Coordinator, who the also provided information below.
==

Santa Cruz (City of Santa Cruz) California, USA City

Inhabitants (2000): 54.593 Territory size: 40 km2

Baseline year used: 1996

Targets: Water savings target: 282 million gallons per year by 2010 (community)

30% reduction below 1996 by 2020
80% reduction below 1996 by 2050
All new buildings zero net energy by 2030

Steps implemented:

Conducted a GHG emissions inventory Yes (1996, 2000,2005,2008)
Adopted an emissions reduction target(s) Yes
Developed a Local Action Plan In progress
Implemented policies and measures In progress (many implemented)
Monitored and verified results Monitoring in progress.


Community wide results to date: