McguireCalifornia Politics Countless qualified scientific research efforts have determined that our environment is changing. Worldwide atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen rapidly and drastically since the 1950s. This spike in carbon dioxide marks the highest measured atmospheric levels in over 400,000 years. Rising levels of carbon dioxide result in rising global temperatures, which have been on the rise since 1884. Researchers estimate that the current warming trend is a direct result of human activity with a probability of over 95%. 18 of the 19 hottest years on record have occurred since 2001, with the 19th hottest year recorded in 1998. Humanity has polluted the atmosphere with an excess of carbon dioxide, which has in turn led to hotter global temperatures. The consequences of these circumstances are far-reaching and complex. As such, for the sake of this climate critique, direct results of manmade climate change will come second to exploring California’s legislative and political climate regarding the climate of Earth.
While climate change affects all living things on the planet, California’s role in climate reform is pinnacle in that it tends to be at the forefront of environmental regulation and policy. Since the passage of Assembly Bill 4420 in September of 1988, California has passed 28 climate-related bills, mostly aimed at regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Many of these bills are responsible for establishing a timeline by which the California legislature must enact GHG emission limits. For example, AB 1493, and SB 1383 require the state to establish GHG emission reduction targets, in addition to setting a deadline for necessary follow-up legislation aimed at meeting those targets. AB 32 and SB 32 could be considered follow-up legislation to the preceding bills; for both AB 32 and SB 32 set hard limits and deadlines where actual reductions in GHG emissions are required. In addition to the passage of bills directly related to the reduction of GHG emissions, many of the 28 climate bills address transportation. According to the California Air Resources Board, 41% of all statewide emissions come from vehicles. If California seeks to cut back on GHG emissions, then setting goals and restrictions on traditional vehicles are a logical next step. AB 8 provides funding for research for alternative methods of transportation that are eco-friendly by means of funding electric vehicle and zero emissions public transportation projects. AB 1092 mandates a minimum number of electric vehicle charging stations in newly constructed buildings and sites in order to accommodate an increasing amount of electric vehicles on the road. In an effort to understand and combat climate change, many of California’s successful climate bills address not only GHG emissions, but also renewable resources, cap-and-trade, and other programs. Given rising carbon dioxide levels and global temperatures, Californians are hoping legislators can rise to climate change’s challenges. The 2018 midterm election saw five districts elect representatives who campaigned on the importance of climate change. All freshman representatives from this election are members of the Democratic party, and each replaced Republican representatives. Among the newly elected are Congressman Mike Levin, an environmental activist endorsed by the California League of Conservation Voters, and Assemblyman Robert Rivas, who helped enact a county-wide fracking ban in San Benito county. Congressman-elect Harley Rouda has published statements showing his concern for climate, including the promotion of green energy over fossil fuels. Assemblyman-elect Katie Hill has made California air and water quality one of her priorities, and she is “willing to do whatever it takes to reverse the damage done to our environment.” Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi was reelected; and as an advocate for climate reform, he believes “climate change [to be] perhaps the greatest challenge facing planet Earth.” The 2018 Midterms also saw Californians cast their votes for climate-conscious Gavin Newsom and Eleni Kounalakis for governor and lieutenant governor respectively. Gavin Newsom pledged to carry out his predecessor’s goals for reducing GHG emissions, and has stated that “the impacts of climate change are already being felt.” Eleni Kounalakis promotes climate change awareness and believes “we must continue to push for smart policies that combat climate change.” While Californians are electing state officials who seem to be concerned with climate, the 2016 Presidential Election proved many Americans feel otherwise. President Donald Trump has been very adamant that climate change is neither a man-made phenomenon, nor a problem. He has been particularly vocal about his skepticism on Twitter, where he once tweeted “global warming is an expensive hoax.” Since becoming elected, President Trump has proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency and other climate change programs. He promotes the use of fossil fuels, which are proven to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere via vehicular transportation. Additionally, President Trump has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Accords, installed fossil fuel supporter Scott Pruitt as head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and buried a report on the current dangers of climate change. Despite President Trump's lack of belief in climate change, many of his election opponents like Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, Jill Stein, and Gary Johnson at least acknowledged that climate change as an issue that needs to be addressed. Although the president-elect refuses to acknowledge the existence of climate change, other popular campaigns of the 2016 Presidential Election prove that climate reform is on the minds of many Americans. Is climate change real? Yes. Do Americans and Californians alike want climate reform? Yes. Is the current administration pushing reforms to combat the consequences of climate change? No. Are Californian legislators pushing reforms to combat the consequences of climate change? Yes. The state of California and the Trump Administration have been at war with one another regarding climate change resulting in criticism from California legislators, and even legal action. Regardless of political opinion, Earth's climate will continue to change for worse if humanity cannot implement limitations on our carbon dioxide emissions. The planet won’t wait for politicians to decide whether they want to take action, or even what kind of action they wish to take. As California's political climate changes, so does the climate of Earth.
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AuthorUndergraduate student generated content. Blog posting and updating done by Kristina Flores Victor, Assistant Professor of Political Science at CSUS Archives
March 2020
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