Tag Archives: Climate

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.

Dave Jones to Speak to ECOS 4/29/2025

Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS): Climate Change Committee
Tuesday, April 29, 2025, hybrid meeting
6 PM Zoom: Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155
Join us in person! 5:30 PM start (drinks & snacks)
Mogavero Architects – 1331 T St. Sacramento

Marching Toward an Uninsurable Future:
The Failure to Transition from Fossil Fuels and the Insurance Crisis

Guest Speaker: Dave Jones, Director of UC Berkeley’s Climate Risk Initiative

When Dave was California’s Insurance Commissioner (2011 to 2018), he launched the Climate Risk Carbon Initiative – requiring insurers to disclose investments in fossil fuels. Earlier, Dave was a State Assemblymember, and a Sacramento City Councilmember.

We’re paying a lot more for home insurance in the Sacramento region, as insurance companies convince the State that they can’t afford to pay to rebuild homes destroyed by the increased wildfires cause by climate change. And yet our insurance companies have major investments in fossil fuel companies that cause climate change.
Let’s discuss what we can do!

5:30 PM: Social period, with drinks and snacks

6:00 PM: Introductions

6:10 PM: Dave Jones, Failure to Transition from Fossil Fuels and the Insurance Crisis

6:45 PM: Q&A, Discussion

7:15 PM: Updates, Announcements

  • LAFCo hearing May 7 on Airport South Industrial project (ECOS opposed)
  • ECOS lawsuit vs. Caltrans on Yolo/I-80 expansion (court date later this spring)
  • Sacramento County’s Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force’s recommendations: workshops this summer
  • Sierra Club lawsuit vs. Sacramento County’s Climate Action Plan – need to incentivize infill over sprawl.
  • City’s lack of staff to implement its climate action plan
  • Ballot measure 2026 to help fund transit in Sacramento County
  • SMUD’s plan to achieve 2030 carbon zero, and locations of solar farms
  • Upper West Side proposed development outside County’s Urban Services Boundary
  • Others? Announcements?

If you drive to the meeting, you can park:

  • in the Mogavero/Collective parking lot behind the Mogavero Architects office
  • next to the ARB building West of Mogavero on 13th or T (no time limits)
  • other street parking (has two hour limit)

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