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Home My WebLink About2009-04-14; City Council; 19772; San Diego Foundation's climate initiativeCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# MTG. DEPT. 19,772 4/14/09 FIN SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION'S CLIMATE INITIATIVE DEPT. CITY ATTY CITY MGR. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive a report on the San Diego Foundation's Climate Initiative from Dr. Emily Young, Director of Environmental Analysis and Strategy, for the San Diego Foundation, and direct staff as necessary. ITEM EXPLANATION: In the past few years, the Carlsbad City Council has invested a considerable amount of time and effort in pursuing programs and policies that will create a sustainable community - a community that will provide a high quality of life for citizens for generations to come. These efforts include asking the staff to focus on three areas: 1) developing social systems that improve the citizen's ability to connect with each other, create a sense of community, and nurture the spirit; 2) create a healthy and sustainable economy that supports the citizens and businesses that make Carlsbad their home, and that will generate the necessary governmental revenue to fund the services needed to create a high quality of life for residents and businesses; 3) invest in the environmental programs that assure that the community enjoys clean air and water, open spaces, natural habitats, energy efficiency, and preparing the City to comply with future legislative mandates. With the adoption of AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, and subsequent legislation (such as SB 375 dealing with transportation and land use regulations) California has moved forward on the environmental front to become an active player in the national fight against global warming. The state's actions have moved the debate about global warming from the intellectual level into the realm of mandates. Carlsbad, along with the other 480 cities in California, now faces the real challenge of how to comply with coming mandates that will affect future operations. The City Council has been proactive in preparing the City for this effort. In 2006, the City Council directed staff to form a special team (Carlsbad Environmental Resources Management Team - CERMT) that brought together resources from many areas of expertise within the City staff. During the past few years, this team identified ways of improving the City's environmental management, some of which have already been implemented. DEPARTMENT CONTACT: contact 760-602-2409 iim.elliott@carlsbadca.gov FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. COUNCIL ACTION:APPROVED DENIED CONTINUED WITHDRAWN AMENDED Daaaa CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC D CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN D RETURNED TO STAFF D OTHER - SEE MINUTES D Council received tbe presentation. Page 2 The Council also directed staff to join the California Climate Action Network. Carlsbad is one of 18 cities that have joined this group of 347 businesses and governments that are participating in the state's efforts to measure and report Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Future compliance with AB 32 and other legislation will not be easy. The complex and technical nature of many of the programs that will be developed by the state to reduce GHG output to 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2020 levels by 2050, will mean that Carlsbad and other communities will need help to succeed. The San Diego Foundation, San Diego's leading resource for information about charitable giving and community needs, has approached the City with an offer of assistance. The Foundation's work with philanthropists to develop creative solutions to meet critical community needs includes a deep interest in helping the region meet the goals of AB 32 by offering support in areas where many cities have little or no expertise. These services include technical assistance, information and research, connections to others who have solved problems Carlsbad is just beginning to tackle. At this meeting, Dr. Emily Young, the Foundation's Director of Environmental Analysis and Strategy, will present the Council with a brief report on the Foundation's work on San Diego's Climate Initiative, and provide information on how the Foundation can support Carlsbad's work in finding solutions that are both economically viable and help Carlsbad meet the targets set by AB32. Following her presentation, Dr. Young and staff will be available to answer any questions the Council may have. FISCAL IMPACT: The report to be provided by the San Diego Foundation has no fiscal impact on the City. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Receiving the report from the San Diego Foundation has no environmental impact EXHIBITS: 1. Presentation from the San Diego Foundation The San Diego Foundation’s Climate Initiative Presented by Emily Young, PhD Director of the San Diego Foundation’s Environment Program The San Diego Foundation’s Climate Initiative Work with government, business, and the community at large to advance regional efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our vulnerability to some of the most harmful effects of climate change Our Partners Zell Family Foundation TSX Group, Inc Platt/Whitelaw Architects, Inc. Orca, Hervey Family, Beyster Family, Hattie Ettinger Conservation Funds California is on the leading edge of efforts to address climate change 1.Global Warming Solutions Act and related legislation 2.Implications for local governments With climate change, there are two fundamental issues for cities to address… 1.Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation strategies 2.Climate change impacts adaptation strategies Our region’s “Carbon Footprint” and reduction mandates Source: www.sandiego.edu/epic/ghginventory Mitigation Strategies Source: www.sandiego.edu/epic/ghginventory San Diego: Uniquely at risk •Enviable mild climate •70 miles of coastline •Exceptional combination of beaches, canyons, mountains, & deserts •Unique hot-spot for biodiversity, with many already threatened species •Severe existing wildfire conditions •International border with Tijuana •Reliance on imports for up to 95% of our water needs The San Diego Foundation. Climate Initiative Focus 2050 Study •To understand the unknown costs and risks associated with a changing climate •To build sense of urgency around agreed upon set of facts The San Diego Foundation. Climate Initiative Primary Question: What will our region look like in 2050 due to climate change, if current trends continue? (King County model) Average annual temperatures will be between 1.5 & 4.5oF higher by 2050 •Early November will “feel” like September currently does. •Our region will become even more vulnerable to drought. Projected Annual Temperatures for San Diego County until 2100 Regional Climate Change Despite plans for water conservation, desalinization, and recycling, demand for fresh water will outstrip supply by 2050. There will be growing potential for conflicts among multiple users. Water Managing regional energy demand will be even more challenging by 2050 Peak electricity demand will increase by over 70% with warmer temperatures causing about 7%. Projected change in summer daytime peak temperatures in San Diego County in the year 2050 Electricity Sea Level Rise in Projected sea level rise for San Diego County until 2050 Sea level is projected to rise by as much as 18 inches This, combined with tidal and storm surges, will cause harm or loss of our sandy beach areas, wetlands, coastal commercial, municipal, & residential properties Simulation of Sea Level Rise in Carlsbad Projected Sea Level Rise in Ocean Beach Public Health The number of days over 84oF in Chula Vista between May & September could triple. Increased heat and air pollution will take a toll on public health, particularly for the elderly, who will comprise almost a ¼ of the population by 2050. Plant and animal habitats in San Diego will be increasingly threatened due to •climate change too rapid for some species to adapt •increased wildfires & more intense droughts •habitat fragmentation and urban sprawl The southern Sagebrush Lizard is found only at elevations above 5,000 ft. With already reduced populations, they may disappear from local mountains that “top out” at 6,000 feet if temperatures continue to rise. Ecosystems What Carlsbad Can Do The San Diego Foundation. Expand programs/policies to conserve, save $ & promote sustainability Improve traffic flow, more fleet upgrades, and reduce water/energy dependence on outside sources Build on successful business & community programs Work w/ local citizens to promote sustainability initiatives through green business certification programs, AB811, CleanTech and green job development Measure & evaluate progress Baseline emissions inventory and impacts assessment with technical assistance from The San Diego Foundation What The San Diego Foundation Can Do for Carlsbad The San Diego Foundation. Technical Assistance Climate Fellows Information & Research Networking Coordinate Disparate Resources Please visit www.sdfoundation.org for the full text of this report