Los Angeles County 2045 Climate Action Plan (Draft 2045 CAP)

Los Angeles County 2045 Climate Action Plan (Draft 2045 CAP)

Background The Draft 2045 CAP would require a General Plan Amendment to replace the Los Angeles County Community Climate Action Plan (2020CCAP), which is an implementing component of the Air Quality Element of the Los Angeles County General Plan (General Plan) (Los Angeles County 2015). The 2020 CCAP projected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from community activities in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County (County) to the year 2020 and identified actions to reduce those emissions below the level prescribed by AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Los Angeles County 2015). Since then, various actions have been implemented and expanded to include other related efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Generally, statewide targets are to reduce emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 (SB 32) and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 (EO B-55-18). While not required to do so by law, the Draft 2045 CAP will allow the County to demonstrate how local actions can support these goals and ensure that the County contributes to the reduction of GHG emissions in alignment with the goals of the state and the OurCounty Sustainability Plan (Los Angeles County 2019), including a 25 percent reduction in GHG emissions below 2015 levels by 2025, a 50 percent reduction below 2015 levels by 2035, and carbon neutrality by 2045. The 2020 CCAP projected GHG emissions based on the General Plan growth to the year 2020 and identified actions which would reduce those emissions below the identified state targets at the time. The Draft 2045 CAP will provide a similar approach to the reduction of GHG emissions from community activities, including future development projected to 2030, 2035 under the General Plan, and 2045. Similar to the 2020 CCAP, the Draft 2045 CAP will be modeled with the land use assumptions, policies and implementation programs found within the General Plan (including the current Housing Element (6th Cycle), as well as within other County projects and programs. In early 2020, the Department of Regional Planning (DRP) released a Public Discussion Draft of the Draft 2045 CAP (Public Discussion Draft). After receiving significant comments from stakeholders, DRP determined the need to substantially revise and update the Public Discussion Draft. Revisions will include an updated GHG emissions inventory for 2018; new emissions forecasts for 2030, 2035, and 2045; new GHG emissions targets for 2030, 2035, and 2045; a revised suite of GHG reduction strategies, measures, and actions in response to public comments to be more clear, specific, feasible, and quantifiable; a technical modeling appendix to explain the Draft 2045 CAP’s GHG reduction estimates; a consideration of environmental justice and equity concerns, such as locating new housing developments away from existing sources of air pollution, and ensuring revenues from the state’s Cap and Trade program benefit the County’s disadvantaged communities; and a new development review consistency checklist to allow projects to streamline CEQA compliance for their projects by using the CAP, per CEQA Guidelines § 15183.5. Contents of the Draft 2045 CAP The Draft 2045 CAP will contain an executive summary and four chapters. Appendices A through C will provide additional detail on topics covered within the Draft 2045 CAP. A brief summary of each component follows: • Executive Summary: The executive summary will include a synopsis of the Draft 2045 CAP, including its goals, GHG inventories and business-as-usual (BAU) forecasts, new 2030/2035/2045 targets, revised GHG reduction actions and their impact, and implementation steps. • Chapter 1 – Introduction and Need: This chapter will provide a summary of the latest climate change science and regulations, and discussion of policies implemented since the 2020 CCAP was adopted. Chapter 1 also will provide an overview of the climate hazards and risks expected in Los Angeles County under high and low emissions scenarios. A discussion on resilience and equity will also be included. • Chapter 2 – Emissions Inventory, BAU Forecasts, and GHG Reduction Targets: This chapter will present the results of the 2010, 2015, and 2018 GHG inventories and the BAU forecasts for 2025, 2035, and 2045. It will also summarize the 1990 GHG emissions backcast as it relates to the CAP’s emission reduction targets. It will include a discussion of each emission sector and its major sources of GHG emissions, and a concise trends analysis to compare the 2010 and 2015 inventories with the current 2018 inventory and identify the primary sources of change in emissions (i.e., economic growth or contraction, technology and regulatory changes, climatic conditions, differences in methods and datasets, and new emission factors). This chapter will also discuss the County’s 2030, 2035, and 2045 targets. • Chapter 3 – GHG Emission Reduction Strategy: This chapter will describe the series of GHG reduction actions (GRAs) needed for the County to achieve its reductions targets, and the timeline for implementation. Estimated GHG emission reductions for all state, regional, and local GRAs (and supporting actions) for each future target/forecast year will be provided. A high-level cost-benefit analysis will be provided for each GRA, including co-benefits to public health, equity, community resilience, climate adaptation, and the economy. Details of quantification methods and assumptions will be provided in a technical appendix. The Draft 2045 CAP includes 11 overarching strategies and 26 measures, each of which has multiple implementing actions (GRAs). The differences among strategies, measures, and GRAs are as follows: o Strategies aim for overarching goals within each emissions sector. o Measures are focused, sub-sector specific programs and goals to achieve each strategy; most measures include performance standards, which are designed to be quantified for GHG emission reductions. Measures will be achieved through individual implementing GRAs. o GRAs are the specific policies, programs, or tools that will be implemented for each measure. GRAs are intended to be implemented in a coordinated manner to make meaningful progress toward achieving the associated measure. • Chapter 4 – Implementation and Monitoring: This chapter will include the Draft 2045 CAP implementation and monitoring program, outlining for each GRA the specific actions to be taken, the needs for operational and capital resources, policy and regulatory changes, and the department and/or other entities responsible for implementation. The implementation plan will include performance indicators for each GRA that will be used to track progress toward achieving each future target, which can be done on an annual basis. This chapter will also summarize CEQA provisions and any development project review requirements for CEQA streamlining. • Appendix A – GHG Inventory Report: This appendix will include a more detailed presentation of the County’s 2010, 2015, and 2018 GHG inventories, including a description of the protocols and quantification methods used to prepare them. • Appendix B – GHG Reduction Action Quantification Methods: This appendix will describe the methods used to quantify GHG reductions for all GRAs. • Appendix C – CAP Consistently Checklist: This appendix will include the consistency checklist for new development. List of GHG Reduction Strategies and Measures The Draft 2045 CAP is anticipated to include approximately 26 recommended GHG reduction measures. Each includes multiple implementing actions. The recommended GHG reduction measures are to be organized under the five main categories and 11 strategies listed below. Climate Leadership • Strategy 1: Lead by example towards carbon neutrality - Measure CL1: Develop a Sunset Strategy for all Oil and Gas operations - Measure CL2: Establish GHG Requirements for New Development Transportation • Strategy 2: Increase densities and diversity of destinations with an emphasis near transit - Measure T1: Increase Density Near High-Quality Transit Areas - Measure T2: Develop Land Use Plans Addressing Jobs/Housing Balance & Increase Mixed Use • Strategy 3: Reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips - Measure T3: Expand Bicycle & Pedestrian Network to Serve Residential, Employment, & Recreational Trips - Measure T4: Encourage Transit, Active Transportation, & Alternative Modes of Transportation - Measure T5: Parking Limitations & Removal of Parking Minimums • Strategy 4: Institutionalize low-carbon transportation - Measure T6: Increase ZEV Market Share and Reduce Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Sales - Measure T7: Electrify County Fleet Vehicles - Measure T8: Accelerate Freight Decarbonization - Measure T9: Expand Use of Zero-Emission Technologies for Off-Road Vehicles & Equipment Building Energy & Water • Strategy 5: Decarbonize buildings and energy use - Measure E1: Procure Zero-Carbon Electricity - Measure E2: Transition Existing Buildings to All-Electric - Measure E3: Standardize All-Electric New Development - Measure E4: Other Decarbonization Actions • Strategy 6: Increase generation and resilience of renewable energy - Measure E5: Increase Renewable Energy Production - Measure E6: Increase Energy Resilience • Strategy 7: Improve efficiency of building energy use - Measure E7: Improve Energy Efficiency of Existing Buildings • Strategy 8: Promote water conservation - Measure E8: Increase Use of Recycled Water and Gray Water Systems - Measure E9: Reduce Indoor and Outdoor Water Consumption Waste • Strategy 9: Reduce and divert waste - Measure W1: Increase Organic Waste Diversion - Measure W2: Maximize Countywide Diversion Rate - Measure W3: Institutionalize Sustainable Waste Systems & Practices Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use • Strategy 10: Conserve Forests and Working Lands - Measure A1: Conserve Agricultural and Forest Lands • Strategy 11: Promote Carbon Sequestration and Sustainable Agriculture - Measure A2: Implement Regenerative Agricultural Practices - Measure A3: Expand the County’s Tree Canopy & Green Spaces

Unincorporated Los Angeles County

Los Angeles

Countywide

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coastal Commission (CCC), California Department of Conservation (DOC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marin Region 7 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, California Department of Transportation, District 7 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Lahontan Victorville Region 6 (RWQCB), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region 4 (RWQCB), California Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), Santa Monica Bay Restoration, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5 (CDFW)

California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region 5 (CDFW)

Other (Climate Action Plan)

General Plan Amendment, General Plan Element

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Solid Waste, Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Wildfire