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The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is one of six boards, departments and offices under the California Environmental Protection Agency. It has long been a research and enforcement arm dealing with air pollution issues, but today the ARB has taken center stage in developing the rules and protocols called for by the Governor and the legislature to limit greenhouse gas emissions in California.
ARB is mission central for what is perhaps the most far-reaching legislation in California history, AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Implementation of this landmark policy will impact the lives of everyone in California and promises to create a roadmap that is likely to be duplicated by governments around the world.
At the helm of the ARB is its chairman, Mary Nichols, who was appointed by the Governor in 2007. One of California's first environmental lawyers, she also chaired the ARB 30 years ago under Governor Jerry Brown. In addition to moving the state's climate change program forward, Nichols, who received her Juris Doctorate degree from Yale Law School, is also working on other clean air initiatives, including curbing diesel pollution at ports and on the state's highways.
In a conversation with Green Technology magazine, she shares her thoughts on the importance of AB 32 and the part that those working in all levels of California government can play in lowering our carbon footprint.
Would you give us an overview of your job as chair of the Air Resources Board?
I'm the full time chairman of a part-time board, and I oversee the operation of the 1,400 or so scientists, engineers, policy analysts and other people who work for us. We are responsible for California's programs to clean up the air and to reduce our impact on global climate change.
AB 32 and its Scoping Plan aren't widely understood. What would you like people who work in government in California to know about it?
AB 32 applies to everybody who works for the state, not just those who
work for the Air Resources Board. It creates a goal for the state of
California to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases by approximately 30
percent between now and the year 2020. Every agency in state government is
a part of this commitment, as is the population of the state as a whole.
ARB has responsibility for developing a plan and for assuring compliance, but many of the specific regulations and programs that are enacted under this law are under the jurisdiction of other agencies and even other levels of government.
Some people in California are skeptical about the overall importance of dealing with climate change right now. How can we convince them of the importance of implementing AB 32?
If there are people who are still skeptical about the existence of global
warming, they are blind to the facts. There is simply no credible opinion
out there anymore that global warming is not happening and that human
activities are not having a dramatic impact on it.
With the economy in the shape it is right now, will other priorities come first?
Unfortunately, putting this off is not an option, because the buildup of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has taken decades to accomplish. This
is very much a situation where every ounce of greenhouse gas that we're
adding to the weight that's already in the atmosphere has a much greater
effect. It's literally like adding the extra straw that could break the
camel's back.
Is there anything about AB 32 that you think might be commonly misunderstood that you'd like to clear up?
Some people think that it's all about creating a marketplace for carbon emissions, and some people think it's all about adopting stricter rules for switching everybody into electric vehicles. In reality there is no single silver bullet that is going to solve this problem. I've heard somebody use the term "silver buckshot," but really we're talking about having to look at a number of different policy tools if we're going to have any hope of making a dent in this problem.
The federal economic recovery package could have a dramatic effect on stimulating green technology and green jobs in California. What would you like to see happen this year by way of AB 32 implementation progress?
I think we need to see a major ramp up in our energy efficiency programs, and that certainly is going to be assisted by the funding that's going to come from Washington. We are very pleased that President Obama has directed his EPA to take another look at California's right to enforce our emission standards for new motor vehicles. That program is one of the most important things that California can do and is part of our contribution to the nation. We have 13 other states and the District of Columbia joining with us the minute we're allowed to start enforcing that program. So, we will be seeing dramatic cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases from the new vehicle fleet beginning this year, we expect, leading up to 45 percent reductions by the year 2020.
Do you think that the new tailpipe emissions waiver would encourage the development of new alternative fuel cars?
We need to do other things like continuing California's Zero Emissions Vehicle program and there are needs for further incentives for buyers. It's not in and of itself the only thing that's needed, but it clearly will send a major signal, and the standards themselves will encourage new technology vehicles, but they don't require them. In fact, the legislation was very specific that it is not to be applied in a way that bans any particular type of vehicle. Under this program we will probably see the same mix of cars that we see today, but the vehicles themselves will be much cleaner.
What are some potential stumbling blocks?
We have to actually get the waiver. It's not in hand yet. There still are clear signals that some in the auto industry are going to try to pressure Congress to override EPA on the waiver. With every one of the projects that we're working on under AB 32, whether it's improving the efficiency of the state's buildings, or the low carbon fuel standard, or any of our specific rules to cut emissions with some of the other non-CO2 greenhouse gases, there are opportunities for delay and slowdown and people saying they don't want to spend the money right now.
We understand that the economy is in very serious shape, but I think the
President said it best when he signed the order last week directing both
the Department of Transportation and EPA to revisit rules that the Bush
Administration had been working on. He said simply that we can't afford
not to make these investments now.
How do you think the new federal administration is going to affect events in California from your perspective?
Well, we're pleased to have partners in Washington to work with now. This is not the first time that California has had a constructive working relationship with the federal agencies that work in the area of energy and the environment. In fact, that has been the norm in the past. The last years were really an aberration, so we're happy to get back on track with California being seen as a progressive element in the national program.
What are some things you'd like to say to those attending the Green California Summit?
The first thing is that they should share in the sense of pride that I feel in the role that California is playing as a trendsetter and as a laboratory where new technology and new ideas can be tried out. This is the real reason why states are so important in our national system, and California really can take a lot of pride in its willingness and ability to be an innovator. I know our state is going through its own share of very serious economic troubles at the moment, but we also have a very rich supply, not only of natural resources, but of human capital that is here inventing and creating and testing the technologies and the policies that are going to literally save the planet.
Having had experience in working at every level of government, and seeing some of the creative things that people come up with both inside and outside the government, I just want to stress that there are opportunities here for everyone, wherever they work, wherever they live. Whatever their principle focus or interests are, they can make a contribution to reducing our carbon footprint.
I know sometimes people get overwhelmed by the amount of advice that they're given about ways in which they could lead better lives. I'm always a little bit leery about preaching, especially when I'm not practicing what I'm preaching - I freely admit that I fly a lot in my work. I like to think that it's a matter of finding those things that you can do yourself that fit with your own lifestyle and your own interests and that also allow you to play a part in this incredibly important effort. It might be as simple as leaving the car home once in awhile, or shopping more locally, or looking for products that are sustainably made, or recycling, or whatever - there are so many ways for people to get involved and expand on their involvement.
The thing that makes this all seem hopeful to me is that I know it's not just my agency or just the State of California that's out there. We have an important role, and it's one that we're very proud of and take very seriously. But we don't have to do it alone.
China and other major greenhouse gas emitters are coming to California for guidance. Do you think it would be an exaggeration to say that what we're doing here could change the course of events around the world?
No, I don't think it's an exaggeration, when Governor Schwarzenegger worked with governors from other states to host the Governors' Global Climate Change Summit. They brought in leaders of national and state and provincial governments from every continent in the world, and it was clear that California was seen as a friendly and welcoming venue for the kind of discussion that leaders around the world are hungry to have.
People understand that we live in a global economy and that global warming is not something that can be solved by any one country or business or level of government. The pervasiveness of carbon throughout our society is such that doing anything to limit it is very challenging, and it has to be done in a way that doesn't interfere with the legitimate hopes of countries that are less affluent than ours to enjoy a standard of living like ours. So we have to do all of these things without, at the same time, cutting our own standard of living or undermining other people's growth. That just makes it more challenging and also much more interesting.
Thank you. |
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