Comment Log Display

Dear CARB Board members:
 
Thank you for your hard work so far envisioning a plan to
implement the Global Warming Solutions Act.
 
I have a few requests that I believe will make this plan even
stronger. I hope you will consider them during your meeting.
 
-         Please auction off all emission allowances. Program
revenues should go toward GHG reduction programs, such as clean
technologies, green jobs, and aid for low-income consumers and
small businesses to reduce their utility bills. 
-         Please work to reduce the role of offsets in the Plan.
Providing too many offsets encourages continuing emissions in
low-income neighborhoods and in defenseless habitats, and weakens
the demand for clean energy technology innovation. Limiting offsets
will create more clean-energy jobs, stimulating our state’s
economy.
-           Please increase the targets for local governments to
reduce emissions caused by poorly planned growth that drives up
vehicle miles travelled. 
-          Please require businesses to recycle their materials. 
We have a chance to make California even better as we address one
of the worst crises our planet has ever faced. Strong CARB policies
will help our state’s residents realize some of the benefits we
will receive by taking on global warming pollution: reduced air
pollution, more clean-energy jobs, less waste and healthier
communities.
-          I would also like to add my agreement with the Sierra
Club's position on the role of forests and carbon sequestation and
I support maintaining healthy, sustainable forest practices which
do not involve massive industrial clearcutting.

"Forests can play an important role in global warming, since
approximately half the weight of a tree is carbon.  Growing larger,
older trees is helpful because they capture and store more carbon. 
Conversely, converting forests to other uses, through sprawl and
development, eliminates carbon storage opportunities now and into
the future, and should be discouraged.  Although forests will have
a role in addressing global warming because they store carbon, we
always need to remember that forests have many values besides
carbon, and need to be managed to be healthy, natural systems. 

Though there is much talk about "trading carbon allowances", the
Sierra Club opposes trading between sources of carbon pollution and
sinks, like forests, which store carbon. The ability of forests to
store carbon should not become a justification for maintaining
higher emissions of air pollution." 

 
Thanks again for your work on behalf of clean air for California.

John Trinkl
President, Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch