Classrooms and Climate:

Perspectives on Environmental Leadership from a Teacher in the Legislature

Green California Schools Summit

November 5th, 2014

Drought

Impacts to California

(photo: Central Valley, source: Center for American Progress ) (photo: Folsom Lake 2011 and 2014 source: NBC News)

Impacts to California (cont.)

(Photo: Ventura County, 2013 Source: New York Times)

Dramatic Weather Patterns

Health Impacts to the Elderly and Children

California’s biggest challenge:

Transportation

Sources of greenhouse gas emissions

AB 1493 (Pavley, 2002): Clean Car Regulations ‐ President Obama

implemented national regulations in 2010.

Reducing our emissions

AB 32 (Pavley, 2006): GHG reductions by 2020

‐ Began as a push for GHG reporting requirement.

Reducing our emissions (cont.)

AB 32 Scoping plan (meeting the 2020 emissions target)

Major Legislation Complementing AB 32

• SB 1368 (Perata, 2006) Emissions Standards – Eliminated coal from our long‐term power contracts

• SB 375 (Steinberg, 2008) Sustainable Communities – Reduction of passenger vehicles on the road

• SB 1204 (Lara/Pavley, 2014) Clean Freight Program – Uses cap and trade funds to establish sustainable freight strategies

Percentage of total emissions reductions

We are on track to hit our 2020 target

We have an ambitious 2050 emissions goal: Energy Efficiency Water

Oil industry is leading the attack on AB 32.

Challenges & Opportunities Looking beyond 2020

(source: Energy and Environmental Economics Inc. “Meeting California’s Long-term Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals”)

$103 million in energy efficiency projects approved to date. ‐ 155 school districts have approved Energy Expenditure plans, benefiting

450 schools statewide.

Over $1.3 million has been approved for schools in my district Newhall School District will receive close to $1.1 million over the next

five years for projects such as: − HVAC replacement − New LED exterior and interior

lighting upgrades − Upgrading PC power management

systems

Energy conservation is a new field for many school districts so there have been some challenges.

Proposition 39 Update

(photo: Oak Hills Elementary School in Newhall School district)

We are leading the way with hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean economy and billions to be invested in climate solutions in CA over the next decade.

Growing number of Cleantech jobs and Careers:

− Wind turbine technician − Solar energy system installer − NREL micro‐electronics engineer

Looking Ahead

In order to successfully confront the environmental and economic challenges of the 21st century, we need to cultivate environmental literacy among all Californians.

151,188 student kits shipped last school year. So far this school year, 102,806 student kits have been shipped out.

Due to increasing demand, a large number of units are currently out of stock. CalRecycle is working on re‐stocking them.

Thousands of teachers, representing nearly half of California school districts have received the curriculum, with more joining each day!

To learn more about EEI, including how you can bring this free curriculum to your school, I urge you to attend the EEI education session taking place tomorrow at 10:30 am.

Education and the Environment Initiative (EEI)

“When we think about California’s future, no long term liability presents as great a danger to our well‐being as the build up of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.” Governor Jerry Brown

State of the State Address January 24, 2013

We Need You!