Climate change: Copenhagen fizzles, California forges ahead

[Louisiana1976]

BERKELEY, California, 21 Dec (IPS) - As countries failed to reach a substantive climate change pact at Copenhagen last week, action at the subnational level has emerged as one of the likeliest paths toward significant climate action.

The U.S. state of California – always a trend-setter and the largest regional economy of the largest national economy – may have some templates for action that circumvents both Copenhagen and Washington.

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger showed up in Denmark on Tuesday, then, it was not merely as another regional representative but as one of the figures who may be shaping a low- or post-greenhouse gas economy.

"While national governments have been fighting over emission targets, subnational governments like California have been adopting their own targets, laws and policies," he told the conference.

snip

http://ipsnorthamerica.net/news.php?idnews=2751

[kestrel91316]

1. The City of Los Angeles also has an excellent environmental plan:

http://mayor.lacity.org/Issues/Environment/index.htm

Our Green LA Action Plan is a thing of beauty: http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp010314.pdf

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. BS!!! Its too little too late at best from an agency noted for its willingness to rape

the environment at a whim. Ever seen Mono Lake and the rest of the Owens Valley? The LADWP has done nothing to repair the devastation that it was not forced to do by courts. Even today it drags its feet. The alkali dust from the drained areas is quite literally a world wide pollutant.

When LA stops taking the water from outlying areas and no longer ships its garbage to Kern county, then *maybe* I and many others will believe LA is serious about being green.

[XemaSab]

3. Mono Lake is not in the Owens Valley

:P

[kestrel91316]

4. So, where exactly do you propose the 9 million or so people in the greater metro LA area get their

water to drink and bathe in and cook with? Please do offer up your suggestion. Oh, and your post makes it abundantly clear that you did notbother to read word one of the Green LA Action Plan.

Oh, and our waste diversian rate from the landfill is ALREADY at about 70%, WAY ahead of the target. And our sewage treatment and associated energy production facilities and biomass disposal are award-winning.

You can't just SHUT OFF the water, you know. Unless you are like the Republicans and simply want us all to drop dead. You don't want THAT, do you? Or do you want us all to be forced to abandon homes and jobs to become environmental refugees? Will you put me and my friends up in YOUR HOME?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. I've read through it...I have also such seen things like it ignored and winked at when they become

inconvenient. When things get tight in the next decade lets see out green LA remains...and how considerate of its neighbors in the outlying areas. The long term track record of LADWP and Los Angeles is to put itself above all else. A very repuke thing to do.

With the available water sources being oversubscribed and California in long term drought, I think its only a matter of time before cites like LA show their true colors, drop the guise of altruism and greenness and claim in some form that their large numbers allow them to claim some sort of extra territorial eminent domain.

I have always maintained that large cities were unsustainable, particularly in the northeast and LA and SF on the west coast. Their basic design is not tenable without massive pollution and taking from other areas. That can not last for the long term.

Lets look at Detroit. Its a human tragedy in many ways. However, its also a chance to rebuild the area to be cleaner much more sustainable. Eventually that will have to be done with most larger cities.

Not sure how you think that is some how repuke thinking.

[kestrel91316]

5. Somehow I am not surprised to see that your hobby involves GROSS air pollution

and wasting precious natural resources.

Let me guess - you live in Bakersfield???? Perhaps you are unhappy that our way-above-standard biosolids go to fertilize two farms in your area, providing HOW MANY jobs, and producing HOW MUCH tax revenue for your community?

And again, if that isn't done, exactly where do you propose we dispose of the waste? Please provide specific details. I'll remind you that simply killing off the 9 million+ people here is not an acceptable solution. We exist, and we have civil rights.

Let's be honest - you're a Repuke, right? 'Cause you sure sound like one.

[Nihil]

6. Oh stop bothering the poor man with facts ...

He has the word "Progressive" in his nickname so he *must* be reliable and trustworthy ... just check his track record ...

(Insert an appropriate smiley here)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. What "facts" would bother me?

I ride instead of driving. I also get better mileage than just about anything else on the road.

I spent some time in eastern Kern county (not Bakersfield)though I do not live there now. I was there at the height of the fight with DWP. Something about sucking the area dry with no regards to environmental consequences. Have you ever taken CA-395 to Mammoth Lakes and looked at what was done to that land by LADWP pumping? The pittance of water that DWP has allowed back in does not begin to undo the damage done.

Recently there an initiative was passed by the people of Kern countythat disallowed the dumping by LA County. It was overturned by the courts. Have to wonder how green it is to send a fleet of truck across the Grapevine every day with that sludge. Did LA buy magic non-polluting truck?

Supporters say that LA residents have civil rights, and I agree. So do the residents of the outlying areas who do not want their water taken and their ground and air polluted. This is no different than the US exporting is pollution in terms of trash.

Large cities in the LA model are unsustainable. If LA truly wants to go green it should find a way to decrease its size and population.

Repukes are in it for money and themselves. Sort of like LADWP...and clearly some of its customers. But by your thinking Bush must have been an Green.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. So being concerned that large cities pilliage outlying areas and developed nations

shift their pollution to less developed ones is a Repuke POV? Damn, that makes Bush an environmentalist president.

THe key point is that the large sprawling megalopolis is really unsustainable.

My "hobby" is also my primary means of transportation at 45 mpg. What about yours?

[wtmusic]

9. LA has been dragging their heels on a desal plant at Playa del Rey

for years - if they were really responsible this would be on the front burner. We're literally draining the Colorado River and California's central valleys dry. IMO LA can only be sustainable if it's self-sustainable.

Agree with you PP (I live in LA).

[PeaknikB]

12. Los Angeles will never be sustainable

How are people going to get around in 10 years after it's obvious oil extraction peaked and net oil exports are drying up? You built a city in a desert, LA was fun while it lasted. 60% of LA's water is pumped in from Northern California.

[wtmusic]

13. Nuclear energy can provide all the energy (and water) LA needs

Add 2-3 desalination plants and 5 million electric cars. Stir.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. .