Category Archives: Climate Change Committee

ECOS Climate Committee meeting, Oct 17, 2024

Topics: Air Pollution in Minority Communities; and SACOG Update

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

6:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions

6:10 PM: Need to reduce air pollution in minority communities – presented by Álvaro Alvarado, Cal/EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Álvaro will present his recently published findings (in collaboration with UC Berkeley) that Californians are breathing far less pollution from vehicles than we were 25 years ago. Exposure to fine particulate matter from traffic has dropped by 65%. Communities of color and low-income communities have seen the biggest improvements. The largest reductions in air pollution levels over the past two decades happened in Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities. However, they are still exposed to higher levels than white Californians – a relative gap that did not change much. Álvaro’s branch produces CalEnviroScreen maps, which help identify communities burdened by pollution.

7:00 PM: Work in progress at Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) – presented by Kacey Lizon, SACOG Deputy Director for Planning & Programs

Kacey will present the status of “Green Means Go”, their 2025 “Blueprint”, and their upcoming regional monitoring report. Green Means Go is a State-funded program to increase the capacity of storm, water, and sewer utilities to accelerate infill housing with lower greenhouse gas emissions than housing in greenfields. The Blueprint is SACOG’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy. SACOG’s monitoring report will consist of data on transportation, land use, housing, and demographic and economic factors.

In November, we hope to continue discussions with SACOG staff on how our 6-county region can meet the State’s target for a 19% reduction in GHG from vehicles by 2035, and possible changes to Statewide legislation (e.g., SB 375 – Sustainable Communities & Climate Protection Program, and SB 743).

7:50 PM: Updates

Click to view a PDF of this agenda.

2024 Sacramento County Climate Action Plan and SEIR

On July 15, 2024, Sacramento County published the 2024 CAP and the Draft Subsequent EIR. The new documents are available on the CAP webpage: https://planning.saccounty.gov/PlansandProjectsIn-Progress/Pages/CAP.aspx

In support of the 2024 CAP, Sacramento County has prepared a Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) to analyze the potential impacts of the 2024 CAP. The Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft SEIR is available below. Public comments on the 2024 CAP and the Draft SEIR will be accepted until August 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

The County’s goal is to complete the CAP and its associated SEIR as quickly as possible while ensuring compliance with applicable CEQA statutory timelines for public input and review.

During the 45-day public review period, staff will present the 2024 CAP to the Sacramento County Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force on August 8, 2024 and the Sacramento Environmental Commission​ on August 19, 2024.

Sierra Club and ECOS Sue Caltrans over Yolo I-80 Freeway Widening Project

On May 29, 2024, the Sierra Club and the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) filed a lawsuit against Caltrans alleging legally inadequate environmental analysis of the I-80 freeway widening project through Yolo County. The lawsuit’s goal is to stop Caltrans from widening 17 miles of the I-80 freeway from six to eight lanes between Davis and Sacramento through the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area until Caltrans conducts a valid analysis of adverse environmental impacts threatened by the project and implements appropriate mitigation for these harmful effects.

Click here to view our press release.

Click here to view the petition.

Other environmental groups filed suit too.

ECOS and Partners Testimonies at City of Sacramento Hearing re 2040 GP & Climate Action & Adaptation Plan 2/25/2024

The Sacramento City Council is expected to adopt its 2040 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan and certify the Final Master Environmental Impact Report on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Please attend this important meeting.

ECOS/Partners testified on the Natomas Basin aspects of the General Plan Update to the City’s Planning and Design Commission on Thursday, January 25th, 2024. Watch our comments on the Natomas Basin aspects of the General Plan Update in the recorded video, here.

The 2040 General Plan

The General Plan is the City’s blueprint for how and where it will grow over the next 20 years. It contains policies that guide everything from the type of homes available, to jobs, transportation, environmental justice, public safety and much more. This major update has been focused on managing growth sustainably and equitably in ways that benefit the whole community, increasing opportunity and prosperity for all.

The Climate Action & Adaptation Plan

The Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) establishes Sacramento’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target for 2030 and 2045, and positions Sacramento to reduce GHG emissions while adapting to projected climate change impacts.

More Info

To learn more about the Sacramento 2040 Project, including links to draft documents, please visit www.sac2040gpu.org.

ECOS Climate Committee meeting 12/21/2023

Thursday, December 21, 2023 – 6 PM start (Zoom)
Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

6:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions

6:10 PM: Alberto Ayala, Executive Director, Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District (AQMD) – will discuss applying for federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG), and the recent COP28 meeting in Dubai.

  • The AQMD is working with agencies in our 7-county Sacramento region to develop a regional greenhouse gas (GHG) plan to include all desired climate pollution reduction strategies. The CPRG program provides $5 billion in grants to develop and implement ambitious plans for reducing GHG emissions, authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act; pre-proposals are due Feb. 1. At a recent joint meeting of SACOG, SMUD, SMAQMD, and SacRT boards, Alberto discussed the idea of converting biomass utilization (from agriculture and forest thinnings) to green hydrogen fuel and sequestered biochar.
  • At COP28, the final global agreement calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels.

7:00 PM: Updates and Announcements

Caltrans started construction on the I-80 Yolo Causeway between Sacramento and Davis. Caltrans released a draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report) for the larger project: adding lanes to the causeway. Comments are due January 5.

Sacramento County: “Notice of Preparation” released for “Subsequent Environmental Impact Report” for a revised Climate Action Plan: January 10 meeting to discuss; comments due Jan. 31. Also, their Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force is preparing to send recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for building electrification, air quality, and transportation.

Sacramento City: moving ahead with existing building electrification, and a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. The City Council voted to move ahead with a Missing Middle Housing approach that would eliminate single-family zoning in its 2040 General Plan.

Click here to view the agenda in PDF.