TITLE
Recommendation to respectfully request City Council support for the City of Long Beach to participate in the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability.
DISCUSSION
The Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action & Sustainability is "a network designed to encourage greater coordination and cooperation at the local and regional levels by bringing together leadership from government, the business community, academia, labor, environmental and community groups. The purpose of this collaboration is to share information, foster partnerships, and develop system-wide strategies to address climate change and promote a green economy through sustainable communities." (LARC)
LARC was created in 2008 and is administered by the UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability on behalf of its members, who include the County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Metropolitan Transit Authority, South Bay Cities Council of Government, Westside Cities Council of Governments, Los Angeles & San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council and Rivers and Mountains Conservancy and the Aquarium of the Pacific. The group has coalesced around the need to integrate climate action plans throughout the region into one plan titled Blueprint for Our Metropolis. The plan will address regional sustainability through best practices, model ordinances and effective strategies to protect and improve the health and well being of citizens on issues ranging from transportation to greenhouse gases, from ecological impacts to urban water use that is "cross-jurisdictional, action-oriented, pragmatic, innovative, inclusive, and successful." It is non-binding and relies on government entities in the region to be proactive and cooperative.
LARC objectives are to:
· Build a Regional Climate Action Plan to 1) establish baselines of current greenhouse gas emission levels, 2) identify greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and mandates, 3) develop a mechanism for tracking progress in reducing those emissions, 4) identify a full range of measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change, and 5) provide strategies to help meet those goals
· Proactively create cross-jurisdictional and public-private partnerships in support of the regional action plan development and implementation.
· Work together to leverage local, state and federal resources to implement the Regional Climate Action Plan.
· Share information and best practices on climate change and other sustainability goals.
· Develop a consistent communication plan for informing stakeholders of the Los Angeles region of the urgency in addressing global climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
LARC will also use modeling to simulate the impact of global warming upon our region over 30-50 years. The model will include such variables as ocean levels, heat waves, smog days, fire danger, temperature increases, energy use and ecosystem changes. The climate change simulation research was funded by a $480,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the U.S. Department of Energy to the City of Los Angeles.
In 2009, Long Beach earned the title of Climate Action Leader by registering its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory with the California Climate Action Registry and has undertaken initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through its Green Building Policy, solar installations and its fleet of alternative fuel vehicles, which earned it the title of "No.1 Government Green Fleet" by the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition, the Port of Long Beach has introduced several incentive programs to reduce air pollution and our Water Department is a trailblazer in water conservation efforts. The Aquarium of the Pacific reduced its carbon footprint 23% since first becoming a California Climate Action Leader in 2006 while adding attendance and new facilities, including its LEED Platinum carbon neutral watershed classroom. Long Beach's commitment to improving beach water quality, encouraging active lifestyles, enhancing its urban forest and protecting open space has received acknowledgements from Heal the Bay, The World Bank, United Nations, and TEDx. Long Beach's leadership and participation in regional issues involving our air quality, water quality, waste diversion, mobility and goods movement necessitates our involvement in LARC.
FISCAL IMPACT
LARC bases its annual membership dues on the total number of employees in a given city or agency. Therefore, with 5,146 total paid employees, Long Beach would pay an annual membership of $3,500.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
VICE MARY SUJA LOWENTHAL
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT GARCIA
FIRST DISTRICT
COUNCILMAN DEE ANDREWS
SIXTH DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER JAMES JOHNSON
SEVENTH DISTRICT