Green Sustainability Plans: an introduction to their international sucess

What do ancient China and What do ancient China and ancient Rome share?ancient Rome share?

President Theodore President Theodore Roosevelt with John MuirRoosevelt with John Muir

A Complex, Interrelated A Complex, Interrelated SystemSystem

California’s Public LandCalifornia’s Public Land

Know Your Inheritance:Know Your Inheritance:Public Lands Day is EverydayPublic Lands Day is Everyday

Creating and ImplementingCreating and Implementing

GREEN PLANSGREEN PLANS

How [Other] Governments How [Other] Governments Are SucceedingAre Succeeding

California AB 32California AB 32

California AB 32California AB 32

• Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006

• Scoping Plan Draft released in 2008

• Implementation expected by 2010

California AB 32California AB 32

California AB 32California AB 32

• Comprehensive– Energy, Water, Air, Forestry, Transportation

• Integrative and Systemic– Local government actions– Public outreach and education– Green jobs and venture capital investment

• Accountable– Public tracking and report card– Review of scoping plan every 5 years

Renewable Portfolio Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)Standard (RPS)

• 33% of all utilities from renewable energy by 2020

• As of 2008, only 12% of electricity in California was produced from renewables

Source: ARB 2008

Public HealthPublic Health

Renewable Energy Renewable Energy ResourcesResources

StrategiesStrategies

“We cannot simply think of our survival; each new generation is responsible to ensure the survival of the seventh generation.  The prophecy given to us, tells us that what we do today will affect the seventh generation and because of this we must bear in mind our responsibility to them today and always.”

Iroquois Chief

Seventh GenerationSeventh Generation

Politics Through the AgesPolitics Through the Ages

• Jack A. Abramoff, former Republican lobbyist found guilty to fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy to bribe public officials: sentence 5 years, 10 months

• President George W. Bush, two-term president of the United States…

California’s Water ChallengesCalifornia’s Water Challenges

• Climate Change is already affecting California’s waterClimate Change is already affecting California’s water• Southern arid regions contain the densest populationsSouthern arid regions contain the densest populations• Corruption has stifled state water management for decadesCorruption has stifled state water management for decades

Truth in Environmental Truth in Environmental Reporting AwardReporting Award

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MEDIANEWS WATCHDOG

Harvest of cash: Kern County agency buys public water low, sells high By Mike Taugher Contra Costa Times Article Launched: 08/09/2008 06:20:44 PM PDT

.

Delta fish suffered a crippling decline while taxpayers paid nearly $100 million to a Kern County water wholesaler for an environmental protection program that was largely ineffective, a Contra Costa Times investigation has found. In the process, the wholesaler sold water to the state for as much as $200 an acre-foot and last year bought water from the state for as little as $28 an acre-foot.

• Mike Taugher, Natural Resources Reporter

Singapore

New Zealand

Mexico CityEuropean

Union

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

Singapore

New Zealand

Mexico CityEuropean

Union

The Netherlands

United Kingdom

Comprehensive

Systemic

Integrated

Accountable

Comprehensive

Systemic

Integrated

Accountable

Highlights of the Dutch Highlights of the Dutch ExampleExample

National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP)

‘‘Comprehensive’ policy Comprehensive’ policy requires participating parties requires participating parties to:to:• Map the relationships

between economic, socio-cultural, technological, and institutional factors

• Adjust means of reaching long term goals as you go

Geographic Scale for Geographic Scale for Environmental Environmental ManagementManagement

• Global• Continental• Fluvial• Regional• Local

Financial InstrumentsFinancial Instruments

• Fiscal incentives• Green taxes in lieu

of direct labor taxes

• Green public procurement

• Investment policy changes

Sustainability Across GenerationsSustainability Across GenerationsThe Netherlands’ Success Rests on:The Netherlands’ Success Rests on:

• Cross boundary approach• Integration of diverse

environmental fields of policy making

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Brundtland Commission Brundtland Commission ((Our Common Future Our Common Future 1987)1987)

“…development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Time ScaleTime Scale

0 50 100 150 200

Years

Term in Office

CorporateInvestments

Human Lifespan

Impact onEnvironment

• Green Plans have been successful around the world, in very different climates, with very different governments.

• States and localities in the United States are showing promise.

• But these governments could have greater success with the support of the national government.

• Now is the time for the United States to adopt its own green plan for sustainable development and climate change mitigation.

ConclusionConclusion

NEPP PrinciplesNEPP PrinciplesEight Tenets of a Single Eight Tenets of a Single PlanPlan

• Stand Still Principle (no further decline)• Abatement at the Source• Polluter Pays• Prevention of Unnecessary Pollution• Best Practices• No Waste Export• Two Track Principle (treat source and effects)• Internalization of People’s Concerns