TITLE
Recommendation to authorize the Director of Planning and Building on behalf of the City of Long Beach to join the California Climate Action Registry. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide, have many negative effects on not only the environment but also public health and quality of life. Greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution and global warming and by understanding these current impacts, the City will have the opportunity to take an important step forward in diminishing its effects on climate change and contributing to a better quality of life for Long Beach residents.
The California Climate Action Registry (Registry) is a non-profit, public-private partnership that provides a mechanism for organizations to record and report their greenhouse gas emissions. Established in 2000 by Senate Bill 1771, the Registry provides a reporting protocol as well as an online reporting tool through which organizations can calculate their emissions and have their emissions independently certified. The resulting annual emissions reports are made available to the public in order to inform the community of our emission status as well as provide the City with a baseline from which to improve.
Participation in the Registry will help the City recognize its goal of becoming a sustainable city. The first step in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions is quantifying current emissions, and having an easily accessible and practical greenhouse gas reporting mechanism will make this possible. It will also help the city compare future emissions as well as evaluate the success of future greenhouse gas reduction programs. Furthermore, participation in the Registry will place the City at the forefront of climate change leadership.
The Registry also provides invaluable technical expertise and an already established and State-recognized reporting mechanism that will simplify the City's work in determining its emissions levels. The City will also be...
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