Tag Archives: Climate Action

Alberto Ayala to Speak to Climate Change Committee, Nov 24

Monday, November 24, 2025 at 6 PM (drinks/snacks starting at 5:30)
Hybrid meeting: In-person at Mogavero Architects, 1331 T Street, Sacramento
and Zoom. Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155 To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

Sacramento Metro Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD)
Executive Officer Dr. Alberto Ayala

Alberto will discuss the following topics and welcome questions. Please join the discussion!

Alberto joined our air district 8 years ago after 17 years at the State Air Resource Board (CARB) where he directed regulations for vehicle emissions reductions and electrification.

Recently, the Sacramento region met the federal 8-hour ozone standard for the first time, for which Alberto accepted an award from Breathe California Sacramento Region.

Here’s what we’ll discuss:

  1. IMPACT OF RECENT FEDERAL ACTIONS on our air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) progress
    o EPA’s Reconsideration of 2009 Endangerment Finding and GHG Vehicle Standards: Would prevent federal action to limit climate change; prevent California from requiring cleaner cars.
    o Recission of promised funds: Community Pollution Reduction Grants, and Sacramento Regional Climate Resilience Plan: Funds were promised last year to our region for projects such as handling ag and forest waste – how can we move ahead without those funds?
  2. PARTICULATES:
    o Fine particulate matter levels (PM2.5) are highest fall/winter: How can we reduce levels? PM2.5 causes more health problems than other pollutants; e.g., heart disease, dementia.
    o Ultrafine PM: What should we do about them? These tiny particles appear to be the most health-threatening – from sources like diesel exhaust and wildfires.
  3. METHANE: SMUD’s emissions (Methane is a much more potent GHG than carbon dioxide.)
  4. SOUTH SACRAMENTO COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING: AQMD found high levels of PM2.5, cancer-causing diesel exhaust & aldehydes in Florin/Route 99 environmental justice area – what to do now?

Updates by Committee Chairs Ralph Propper and Eugene Lee: [Add your own for us to hear!]

  • Caltrans’ plan to add lanes to I-80 in Yolo County: ECOS appeals court decision denying our lawsuit.
  • Sacramento County’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force: What’s next for plans to cut GHG?
  • Sales Tax to Fund Transit – plans for Citizens’ Initiative for 2026 Ballot: How can we help?
  • Biomass & Beyond: Growing a Resilient Regional Bioeconomy (recent Valley Vision event): We have a lot of dead trees in the Sierras, and much agricultural waste – we must do better than burn them!
  • Airport South Industrial Project – diesel exhaust near school: City Council hearing Dec. 2
  • Upper Westside Project: County postponed approval after City Council letter of concerns
  • SMUD’s 2030 zero-carbon goal, and proposed Coyote Creek solar project: County hearing Nov 18.

Click here to view the agenda.

“Climate Compass”: Elk Grove’s Plan to Implement Climate, Sustainability, & Resilience Goals – Presentation 8/21/2024

Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) Climate Change Committee Meeting: Thursday, August 21, 2025

Featuring a special presentation on the “Climate Compass”: Elk Grove’s Plan to Implement Climate, Sustainability, & Resilience Goals

Zoom Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155 | To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155
And in-person, at Mogavero Architects, 1322 T St., Sacramento, CA

The City of Elk Grove is updating its draft climate action plan, titled the “Climate Compass”.
Intended as a roadmap for climate mitigation and adaptation, it also addresses broader sustainability and resilience efforts.

New measures are proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from transportation and buildings – through policies such as compact development, electric vehicle infrastructure, and building energy efficiency.

City efforts have been led by Carrie Whitlock, Elk Grove’s Long Range Planning Program Manager. She has been working on climate, sustainability, and resilience in Elk Grove since 2019. Previously, Carrie worked on climate change at Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and 20 years for the U.S. State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development, serving in Rwanda and Cambodia.

5:30 PM: Social period (join us for snacks and drinks!)
6:00 PM: Welcome and Introductions
6:10 PM: Carrie Whitlock will overview the Climate Compass and the Climate Compass Dashboard which lists the Compass actions and impacts. Compass comments are due August 15; ECOS and others have submitted comments. Carrie will share her thoughts on how the Compass may be revised in light of the comments received. State legislation calls for carbon neutrality by 2045, a goal that has been made more difficult by federal actions this year.

ECOS Letter

On August 15, 2025, ECOS submitted a letter to the City of Elk Grove regarding their Climate Action Plan, also called the Climate Compass. Click here to read the letter. Click here for the attachment to the letter.

Join the discussion and learn more about the City of Elk Grove climate plans!

After Q&A, we’ll have updates and announcements (open to all).
Updates to include recent Sacramento City & County actions on Natomas development projects.

ECOS LETTER re Sacramento County Climate Action Plan, 11/6/2024

On Nov 6, 2024, ECOS submitted to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors a comment letter on the County of Sacramento Climate Action Plan, Final Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIR).

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) appreciates that County staff have developed a better Climate Action Plan than its 2022 version. However, we still have major concerns that must be addressed before we can support it.

Click here to read the letter.

ECOS Climate Committee Meeting feat. SACOG, 11/18/2024

SB 375 has been the “North Star” of regional climate action in California since Darrell Steinberg got it enacted sixteen years ago.
With half of State GHG emissions coming from vehicles, it requires State transportation funds to only go planning agencies (SACOG here) that show how they can fund transportation systems in a way that can achieve State-mandated GHG reductions.
This has been challenging, as we see Caltrans continue to expand freeways, and as Sacramento County supervisors continue to approve sprawl development.
After 16 years, a lot has changed — SACOG wants SB 375 to be paused until it can be revised.
On Monday, let’s hear why – from SACOG’s leader. And also – from an academic leader – should it be revised, and if so, how?

AGENDA

6 PM: Welcome and Introductions

6:10 PM: Why does SACOG want the State to pause its SB 375 target setting process?
CA Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg, 2008) provides the framework for reducing GHG emissions, requiring the Air Resources Board to set regional targets: for SACOG, 19% per capita vehicle GHG emission reduction, from 2018 to 2035. CARB is now working on establishing future targets for CA regions. In his last “State of the City” address, Sacramento Mayor Steinberg cited SB 375 as a notable legislative achievement.

  • James Corless, Executive Director, Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) will explain why he (and other regional planning agencies) asked CARB to pause its SB 375 target. Link to letter: https://calcog.org/why-are-mpos-seeking-a-pause-on-sb-375-target-setting
  • Amy Lee, postdoctoral scholar at UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies, will provide a perspective. Amy studied with UC Davis Prof. Susan Handy in Transportation Policy, including study of regional transportation planning and induced travel. Amy previously worked at SACOG.

7:20 PM: Q&A, Discussion

7:50 PM: Updates
• Lawsuits over Caltrans’ plan to add lanes to I-80 in Yolo County
• Sacramento County Climate Action Plan, & County’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force
• ECOS’ work with SacRT to highlight benefits of public transit
• Election Recap – Sacramento Region

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

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.