For Immediate UseContact: Dan Taylor
December 11, 2008(916) 719-2666
California’s new climate plan renews its status as leader on addressing global warming
California Air Resources Board strategy will have real climate and economic benefits
SACRAMENTO, CA – By adopting an aggressive scoping plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the California Air Resources Board has renewed the state’s leadership on climate change issues, says a coalition of key conservation organizations in California – Audubon California, The Nature Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife. Moreover, the coalition commended the Board for recognizing and capturing the essential role nature plays in a comprehensive solution for climate change.
The coalition has been an active stakeholder in the creation of the scoping plan, recommending a strong role for forest conservation and carbon offset programs—both within California and abroad. The coalition is also working with the state to develop legislation for climate change adaption to ensure wildlife and ecosystems survive the impacts of climate change.
“The plan the California Air Resources Board approved today is ambitious, but it’s also based on the reality that California needs to be aggressive to meet its reduction targets,” said Glenn Olson, executive director of Audubon California. “We’re proud of the many advocates who helped shape this plan to codify the important role that nature itself will play in this effort.”
The coalition has continually urged the Air Resources Board to capitalize on the unique role that nature-based solutions play in solving climate change. Because deforestation, tropical deforestation in particular, produces as much as one-fourth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, the coalition stressed that any meaningful solution to climate change must reduce emissions from forest loss.
"We congratulate the Board for responding to this need and acknowledging the critical role that forests and natural systems must play in the global warming solution, both domestically and internationally," said Michelle Passero, senior climate policy advisor for The Nature Conservancy.
Climate change presents profound challenges for wildlife conservation, and throughout the process the coalition fought to ensure that any emissions reduction plan take into account the need to bolster the protection of important habitat.
“The plan establishes just the kind of strong leadership we need to not only reduce carbon emissions statewide, but also help people and nature persevere amidst the unavoidable impacts of global warming like warmer temperatures, drought, increased frequency and intensity of forest fires and depleted habitats,” said Kim Delfino, California director of Defenders of Wildlife. “It is inspiring to see California continue to lead the rest of the country in this vital area.”
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 18 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 117 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit www.defenders.org.
Audubon California is building a better future for California by bringing people together to appreciate, enjoy and protect our spectacular outdoor treasures. With more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 49 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of the National Audubon Society.
