Sierra Club California

Global Warming

Members of the California Air Resources Board will meet Dec. 11-12 to consider a plan for addressing climate change in the 21st century. They also plan to enact the “diesel truck rule,” which would guide truckers in reducing their emissions.

Both rules would have a profound affect on the air we breathe. Reducing global warming pollution also would lower the amount of harmful air pollution throughout the state. At the same time, taking on pollution from trucks also will reduce the pollution that causes global warming.

There is a lot at stake: if our state successfully takes on global warming pollution, it can provide a model for the rest of the nation. The diesel truck rule also can provide a model for the rest of the state, and lower the diesel pollution that causes an estimated 4,500 early deaths each year, according to the California Air Resources Board.

Despite their clear benefits, both of these plans face tremendous opposition from polluting industries. Even if Sierra Club California successfully advocates for these rules, we expect attacks from Republican legislators during the budget process, with these industries arguing against funding these important rules. We’ll keep you up to date via our Action Alerts and here at www.sierraclubcalifornia.org.

Dec. 11-12 ONLY: Watch the live webcast of the California Air Resources board meeting...

We’re trying our hardest to convince the board to listen to us on three key points:

Land Use: We think the air board hasn’t asked for big enough reductions in global warming pollution caused by bad land use decisions. Poor planning now can set us back decades, in terms of cleaning up the pollution that causes global warming. Plus, improvements to transit and community design plans will mean Californians will spend less time in their cars!

Auctions: We need to draw the line: California cannot simply give away “pollution allowances.” If our state makes these pollution permits part of the way we take on global warming, we need to SELL these allowances, and use the money to green our energy and transportation systems – and give low-income families a break on their utility bills.

Offsets: Currently, the state’s proposal would allow nearly half of all emissions to come from offsets, basically credits that polluters would buy instead of making their own emissions reductions. Rather than outsourcing GHG emissions cuts through offsets, California must aggressively develop its own new, clean technologies to reduce global warming pollution here and around the world.

The air board also will vote whether to lower harmful emissions from diesel trucks – amid arguments that this isn’t the right time to require truckers to spend more money.

We argue that this isn’t the right time to spend $28 billion on health care costs increased by emissions from diesel trucks. The state’s budget will feel the pinch if the board doesn’t call for these changes to truck aerodynamics and engines.

We are also asking the board to increase its enforcement of the rules through inspections and evaluations – while providing funds to help truckers get these new vehicles.