Air board cap-and-trade, diesel regs a mixed bag

Thursday, December 16, 2010

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to approve a cap-and-trade program, designed to address climate change by allowing polluters to buy and sell credits and offsets in a carbon market. The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) is pleased with the inclusion of a component to help protect disproportionately impacted communities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 16, 2010

Contact:

Policy Director Nidia Bautista, cell (562) 237-1433

Communications Director Monica Howe, office (213) 630-1192 x105

Air board decisions a mixed bag

Cap-and-trade includes some positive steps, but diesel amendments could be a setback if adopted

Sacramento, CA—Today the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to approve a cap-and-trade program, designed to address climate change by allowing polluters to buy and sell credits and offsets in a carbon market. The Coalition for Clean Air (CCA) is pleased with the inclusion of a component to help protect disproportionately impacted communities.

The regulation is adopted as part of implementing AB 32, California's climate law, which requires reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition to allowing trading of emissions, the regulations allow polluting companies to purchase so-called "offsets" from others who have committed to reducing their GHG emissions. The offsets will likely occur far from the source of smog-forming and toxic air pollutant releases typically associated with GHG emissions, which has made the cap-and-trade regulation controversial for air quality advocates.

CCA's focus in particular has been to ensure that opportunities to reduce localized air pollution are maximized as California tackles climate change, a requirement of AB 32 and an effort resoundingly supported by California voters with the defeat of Proposition 23 in November. To help mitigate the unbalanced impact that offsets and trading can have at a local level, CCA has worked with CARB to include a Community Benefits Fund in its plans. This will direct AB 32-related investments to the most polluted and disadvantaged neighborhoods across the state.

"We commend CARB for its inclusion of the Community Benefits Fund," said Policy Director Nidia Bautista. "California needs to invest in its most polluted and disadvantaged neighborhoods, to reduce pollution, maximize energy efficiency and help residents cope with the climate crisis—all while providing green job opportunities and boosting the local economy." Coalition for Clean Air will work with our legislative champions and colleagues to pursue legislation to make the Community Benefits Fund a reality.

Tomorrow CARB is expected to vote on a proposal that would dramatically roll back its own regulations on some of air pollution's worst offenders: trucks, buses and other equipment that spew tons of sooty diesel exhaust into the air daily. The proposed actions include amending standards for reducing particulate matter from construction fleets, delaying compliance for existing standards by as many as 12 years, and eliminating requirements for new equipment filters that would have had immediate air quality benefits.

Each year in California, diesel exhaust leads to thousands of premature deaths and cases of cardiovascular and respiratory illness and hospital admissions, costing Californians tens of billions of dollars annually.

"Retreating on our diesel pollution regulations would affect millions of Californians," said Elizabeth Jonasson, campaign and outreach associate in the San Joaquin Valley. "And the brunt of that would be felt by the low-income communities of color living near major highways, agricultural areas and industrial centers."

"CCA has been vocal about the threats of these amendments," added Bautista. "Either way, we will continue to hold air quality agencies accountable and push for future opportunities to improve public health and the air we breathe."

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http://coalitionforcleanair.org/news/12-16-10-CARB.html