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Comment 42 for Comments on the RTAC (sb375-rtac-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Julia
Last Name: Gardiner
Email Address: jgardiner@tnc.org
Affiliation: The Nature Conservancy
Subject: TNC redline comments to RTAC draft report
Comment:
Dear RTAC members and CARB staff, The Nature Conservancy respectfully submits the attached redline edits to the RTAC's draft report dated 8.28.09. Thank you for your important work pulling this report together and for your consideration of our comments. In summary, TNC is pleased that the preservation of natural lands is included as one of the co-benefits of compact development. However, in order to optimize GHG emissions reductions across sectors and preserve vital ecological services we request that the RTAC report explicitly recognizes the impact land use decisions have on additional GHG emissions and reductions from forests and natural lands by adding the insert below to the "Co-benefits of Sustainable Communities Strategies" section on page 41 of the report. TNC also recommends that biological emissions and reductions and other co-benefits be included as a factor in ARB's target setting process (p8), and natural land preservation should included as a performance measure (p44). Lastly, existing tools allowing improved quantification of co-benefits should be used to enhance the models (p45). Please contact me with questions or for additional information. Thank you. Julia Gardiner Insert in August 28, 2009 Draft RTAC Report (p.41) Ecological benefits and Biological GHG emissions reduction Optimization of GHG Emissions Reductions Across Sectors – Compact development that minimizes development pressure on intact forests and natural lands reduces additional GHG emissions associated with disturbance and conversion of these lands, preserves their ability to continue to sequester carbon dioxide and maintains their vital climate regulation function. Additional Co-Benefits– land use patterns that preserve remaining forests and other natural lands allows them to continue to provide a full suite of critical benefits to human and natural communities including the protection of air and water quality, recreation and fish and wildlife habitat. Help Human Communities Adapt to Climate Change – Compact development fosters the protection of natural ecosystem functions, including natural infrastructure such as wetlands and coastal vegetation which provide a cost effective alternative to built structures to buffer human communities from the impacts of the more frequent extreme weather events such as floodwaters or storms, that are the result of a changed climate.
Attachment: www.arb.ca.gov/lists/sb375-rtac-ws/96-draft_rtac_report_tnc_redline_recommendations_9.8.09.doc
Original File Name: Draft RTAC Report_TNC redline recommendations 9.8.09.doc
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2009-09-08 13:45:56
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