Issues
Environment
Reducing California’s environmental impact is one of the most urgent challenges the state faces. California is responsible for 1.4% of the world’s and 6.2% of the America’s greenhouse gases. According to the National Resources Defense Council, measured against other countries, California is the 12th largest source of global warming emissions in the world.
In response, California has implemented some of the most stringent environmental standards in the nation. Assembly Bill 32 mandates that California decrease its emission levels by 15% by 2020, returning to 1990 emission levels. And AB 1461 and AB 2246 have dramatically increased consumer and business incentives to use alternative energy. These measures are important steps forward, but our commitment to environmental reform cannot stop there. In the years to come, Californians will need to drive less, build more green buildings, recycle more and pollute less – and our leaders in Sacramento must continue to push California to the cutting edge of environmental stewardship and reform.
San Francisco has set an example for the state by requiring city government to be carbon neutral by 2020, investing in bio-diesel conversion efforts of food waste and developing some of the most aggressive solar and wind power incentives and carbon offset programs in the nation. Under Mayor Newsom’s leadership, San Francisco has become one of the “greenest” cities in the country.
- Recycling and Toxin Reduction: San Francisco has the highest recycling rate in the country at 70% - up from 35% in 1996. Food waste and compost collection was measured at 100,000 tons – up from zero in 1996. And 663,404 tons of waste went to landfill – the lowest disposal in San Francisco in 30 years.
- Clear Air and Emissions Reductions: San Francisco will surpass the carbon emissions standards laid out by the Kyoto Protocol by 2012. Converting the city’s entire diesel fleet to B20 biodiesel, zero emission public transit standards, the collection and conversion of waste cooking oil into biofuels and the creation of a 100% green taxi fleet are some of the policies spearheaded by Gavin Newsom that have dramatically reduced San Francisco’s emissions.
- Urban Forest: In 2009, Mayor Newsom announced that San Francisco had exceeded his 2004 pledge to plant 25,000 trees in San Francisco, planting 26,408 new trees since 2005. Newsom's Trees for Tomorrow program provides a healthier and more environmentally sustainable city by improving air and water quality, increasing storm water diversion, providing energy savings, improving wildlife habitat and increasing property values.
- Carbon Offset Program: In 2007, Mayor Newsom announced the creation of the San Francisco Carbon Fund, the first ever municipal carbon offset program. The pilot program starts with offset emissions from municipal air travel, and will be expanded to San Francisco residents, businesses and visitors once the program infrastructure has been established. The fund will also provide city government, residents and businesses information regarding the true costs of carbon intensive activities.
- Green Building Standards: Mayor Newsom has introduced the most comprehensive green building requirements in the country – requiring all new residential and commercial development meet LEED and green building certification. These reforms would require new large commercial buildings and residential high-rises to contain such environmentally friendly features as solar power, nontoxic paints and plumbing fixtures that decrease water usage. Not only are San Francisco’s building code reforms expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60,000 tons and save 220,000 megawatt hours of power – they are also expected to save 100 million gallons of drinking water and 90 million gallons of wastewater through 2012.
- Electric and Clean Vehicles: Over 50% of San Francisco’s public transit vehicles are now electric and the city has the largest bio-diesel fleet in the nation. In a regional partnership, Mayor Newsom and regional leaders have drafted a nine-step policy plan to make the Bay Area the national leader in electric vehicle infrastructure through aggressive incentives for electric vehicle charging stations, shared government programs for the purchase of electric vehicles and expediting permitting and installation of plug-in charging stations and programs. And while San Francisco already has the cleanest public transit fleet in the nation, Mayor Newsom has set an ambitious goal to have San Francisco’s public transit fleet run exclusively on green and renewable sources by 2020.
- Wave and Wind Power: In 2009, San Francisco took the first formal steps toward developing the first commercially-scaled wave power generation project in California’s history. Within a few years, Mayor Newsom expects this wave platform and tidal project to have the potential to generate 100 megawatts of energy. In 2008, Mayor Newsom co-chaired the Residential Wind Power Work Group and signed an executive order to expedite permitting and minimize costs for the installation of residential, commercial and municipal wind generation turbines in San Francisco to encourage small-scale, urban development of wind power.
- The Country’s Most Aggressive Solar Incentive Program: San Francisco has the country’s largest and most aggressive municipal solar program – a program that both reduces energy costs and reduces dependence on polluting energy sources. The 10-year solar rebate program reduces the cost of solar for San Francisco residents, businesses and nonprofits by leveraging public dollars with private investment from local solar providers. These solar rebates provide a low-cost opportunity to go green – using public investment and non-city sources to leverage about 80% of the average solar installation cost.
- Light Brown Apple Moth: Mayor Newsom urged Governor Schwarzenegger to study the health consequences before proceeding with aerial spraying and actively supported state legislation to determine the health risks and establish a safe control plan for eradication of the light brown apple moth. In a letter to the Governor, Newsom said: “San Francisco urges you to continue your record of caution regarding chemical exposures and their potential and known effects on health by instructing the CFDA to implement alternatives to aerial spraying until the short-term and long-term impact of the chemicals (including the inert chemicals) is thoroughly studied.”
- Join Our Policy Team: Gavin Newsom believes that the best plan is a better idea. If you would like to share your ideas and insights on how to reshape California's Environment policy, please email us at issues@gavinnewsom.com.
