records in the face of $4.00 per gallon for gasoline during the summer of 2008.
26
However, the state’s
budgeting decisions have reduced public transit services.
27
The funding allocations seem contradictory
in the face of California’s efforts to combat
million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e). 3 1 CARB identified a further reduction in GHG emissions of one (1) MMTCO2e from
the development and operation of a high speed rail system.3 2
climate change. SB 375 builds upon AB 32 as a means for achieving the
C L I M AT E C H A N G E AND CLEAN AIR
5 MMT CO2e reduction identified in the scoping plan. The transportation sector is responsible for over 40%
of California’s total GHG emissions.3 3 In passing SB 375, the legislature found and declared that reduction of GHG emissions from automobiles is not sufficient
The California Legislature, in passing the California
to obtain the AB 32 goals. 3 4 Instead, meeting the 2020
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, 2 8 aptly
target under AB 32 will require reducing the number
described the potential harms of climate change
of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by Californians, which
to California:
will in turn require changes to land-use decisions and
Global warming poses a serious threat to the
the expansion of existing and new mass transit. 3 5
economic well-being, public health, natural resources, and the environment of California.
Reducing VMT will also aid the state in its efforts to
The potential adverse impacts of global warming
clean California’s notoriously polluted air.3 6 As
include the exacerbation of air quality problems,
a particular example of the air problems in California,
a reduction in the quality and supply of water to
the San Francisco Bay Area and the South Coast Air
the state from the Sierra snowpack, a rise in sea
Basin (which includes Los Angeles County) have
levels resulting in the displacement of thousands
failed to meet federal standards for ozone levels since
of coastal businesses and residences, damage to
1989. 3 7 Ozone (smog) pollution—something with
marine ecosystems and the natural environment,
which most residents of those areas are intimately
and an increase in the incidences of infectious
familiar—is linked to serious health problems,
diseases, asthma, and other human health-related
including respiratory illness and premature death. 3 8
problems. 2 9 As described by the legislature, California stands to suffer extraordinary economic losses and a substantial drop in the quality of its residents’ lives if efforts are not taken to mitigate climate change. To address California’s contributions to climate change
INCREASING P O P U L AT I O N A N D DENSITY
and urge other governments to action, AB 32 directs
In 1982, California’s population was approximately
the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reduce
24.5 million people3 9 and its density reached 159.1
California greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990
persons per square mile.4 0 In 2007, its population had
levels by the year 2020. 3 0 CARB has identified in
increased to 37.6 million people.4 1 The state’s density
its scoping plan a goal of reducing GHG emissions
rose to 234.4 persons per square mile. These trends
from “Regional Transportation-Related GHG Targets”
represent increases of 53% and 47%, respectively. 4 2
—that is, changes in land use decisions—by five (5)
48