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For Immediate Release
• California Audubon • Defenders of Wildlife • The Nature Conservancy in California
Top Environmental Groups: California's Climate Plan is on the Right Track
Strategy poised to generate real climate and economic benefits
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A coalition of key conservation organizations in California – Audubon California, The Nature Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife – commends the California Air Resources Board for its completion of the AB 32 Climate Change Scoping Plan. In this plan, California demonstrates the essential role nature and finance play 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.
“This is the next important step in a critical process that will continue with a final decision by the full Air Board in December,” said Mike Sweeney, director for the Nature Conservancy in California. “While many details still need to be resolved, this plan is a strong construct that will put California on the path of meeting its reduction targets with significant, positive impacts on California’s environment and economy.”
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 (GHG) 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 including a role for forest carbon offsets from both domestic and international projects,” said Michelle Passero, Senior Climate Policy Advisor at The Nature Conservancy
“California must look both within and outside its borders to produce lasting, global results against climate change. Emissions reduced via a project in Brazil has the same positive effect on the Earth’s atmosphere as reductions in Los Angeles,” said Dan Taylor, political director for California Audubon. “In addition to being an effective tool for addressing climate change, the protection and expansion of forests and other natural resources through offset programs provide other critical environmental, economic, and social benefits. In some of the world’s poorest and most challenged countries, nature-based offset programs could result in the protection of threatened wildlife, restoration of degraded lands and watersheds, clean water and improved agricultural productivity.”
The coalition also advocated for an auction to distribute the permits to emit carbon and continues to urge the state to establish a 100% auction of those allowances as quickly as possible. Once the scoping plan is adopted by the state, the coalition will advise the state to focus on the impacts climate change will have on California’s land and waters.
“Strong leadership is needed for the next step – helping to safeguard wildlife from the threats of global warming,” added Kim Delfino, California director of Defenders of Wildlife. “While California has undoubtedly led the charge to reduce carbon emissions worldwide, we must also develop strategies to 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.”
“Recent studies show that by 2050, sea level is predicted to rise by one foot and 30 percent of all species, including California’s Joshua tree and desert tortoise, will be at a high risk of extinction. Prior planning to manage these impacts is a vital importance. We will continue to be actively involved in the development of the final plan in November and beyond to ensure that the role of nature is properly addressed,” added Passero.
Learn more on what Defenders is doing to address global warming.
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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.
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.
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.
