The Beacon Award recognizes and celebrates California cities and counties that:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy;
Adopt policies and programs to address climate change; and
Promote sustainability.
California is at the forefront of the worldwide effort to address the causes and consequences of climate change. CCAN helps cities and counties play a leadership role in responding to the challenges of climate change. CCAN provides:
Over the past few years, California and national public opinion polls have provided a better picture of this evolving topic. Several key themes offer a window into what our communities' residents think.Read more »
SB 375, authored by Senator Steinberg, directs the California Air Resources Board to set regional targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and establishes a "bottom up" approach to ensure that cities and counties are involved in the development of regional plans to achieve those targets.
Called the "sequel" to AB 32, SB 375 connects land use and regional planning to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction through a three-part strategy: (1) using the regional transportation planning process to help achieve AB 32 goals; (2) using CEQA streamlining as an incentive for residential projects that help achieve AB 32 goals; and (3) coordinating the regional housing needs allocation process with the regional transportation planning process. This strategy is part of the bill's framework for how the California Air Resources Board will achieve GHG reduction goals for cars and light trucks under AB 32. For more information, visit the Institute's Overview of SB 375, which has links to detailed analyses by the League and CSAC.
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) released its study November 18 examining how cities and counties are responding to climate change. The study is titled Climate Policy at the Local Level, and among the report's highlights is the finding that 75 percent of California's cities and counties are actively engaged in climate change issues.Read more »
This updated Best Practices Framework (Version 6.0) includes new best practice ideas from local agencies and links to case stories that illustrate the best practice.
New from the Institute: 
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