Can California ease the burden of a burning planet?

From: POLITICO California Playbook - Friday Apr 08,2022 01:21 pm

Apr 08, 2022

By Lara Korte, Jeremy B. White, Juhi Doshi and Chris Ramirez

THE BUZZ — WELL, THINGS ARE STILL BAD: If you’ve been paying even a little bit of attention to climate change news over the past five years, you’ll know that scientists have been warning that the planet is hurtling toward climate disaster with the brakes half-pulled. We got another flashing red light this week from a United Nations panel that warned that in order to limit global warming and secure a “livable future,” nations across the globe will need to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent by 2025.

It’s not great news for anyone, but it struck a particularly strong chord in California, where the effects of climate change have been acutely felt in the form of wildfires and heat waves. The state saw a depressingly dry winter, which means more water shortages and likely more fires. And just a day after the UN warning, the California Legislative Analyst’s Office sent a detailed report to lawmakers advising them to brace for coming decades of rising temperatures, devastating droughts and more intense natural disasters.

California, in many ways, is the U.S.’ preeminent example for taking action on climate change. Its ambitious plans, like an economy-wide emissions cap and requirements for automakers to sell electric vehicles, have earned the Golden State a spot on the global stage at U.N. climate conferences.

But environmental advocates say even California’s robust response to the warming planet has not been good enough. The state is behind on a goal to get its greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels, said David Weiskopf, a senior policy adviser for NextGen Policy, a California-based nonprofit. Per the California Air Resources Board , emissions are declining at a rate of about 4.5 million metric tons of CO2 per year. They need to be dropping by around 16.7 million metric tons to get on the state track for 2030.

“California has some of the best climate policies of any jurisdiction in the world,” Weiskopf told us. “We’re a global leader on climate action and the fact that we’re not doing enough to keep up with even our 2030 target really says something about how far we have to go as a global society.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget (which is due for a revision next month) includes an additional $22.5 billion for climate change initiatives like zero-emissions vehicles and clean energy. But when it comes to shifting from oil to renewable energy, the state’s ruling Democrats have continued to clash with labor interests. The State Building and Construction Trades Council has killed some of the Democrats’ most ambitious bills to tackle climate change.

Following the UN report, Newsom's office released an adaptation strategy to protect “people and natural places from accelerating climate threats.” But climate advocates knocked him for focusing on the effects, not the causes, of global warming.

“A Climate Adaptation Strategy with no mention of stopping oil and gas permits is ludicrous, but that’s exactly what Governor Newsom has given us,” said Food & Water Watch California director Alex Nagy.

BUENOS DÍAS, good Friday morning. After 233 years, the United States Supreme Court will have its first Black woman on the bench. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by a vote of 53 yeas and 47 nays on Wednesday in the U.S. Senate. Three Republican senators crossed party lines to confirm her, Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Got a tip or story idea for California Playbook? Hit us up jwhite@politico.com and lkorte@politico.com or follow us on Twitter @JeremyBWhite and @Lara_Korte.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Her confirmation symbolizes the many years that Black women stood firm and insisted on an America that is relinquished of racism, sexism, hate, and discrimination. Her confirmation represents the hard-fought years of arduous work that came before us by leaders like Rosa Parks, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Claudette Colvin, Rudy Bridges and many more.” California Democratic Party Controller April Verrett on the confirmation of Jackson to the Supreme Court.

BONUS QOTD: “You’re looking at one.” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, when Boebert asked him what a man is.

TWEET OF THE DAY: SF Chronicle City Hall Reporter Trisha Thadani @TrishaThadani: “Anyone else have such deep distrust of San Francisco weather that they still must carry a jacket, even on a day like today?”

BONUS TOTDS: San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo’s official Twitter account ( @sliccardo) was apparently hacked by an NFT seller Thursday night, per KRON’s Carlos Mendoza.

WHERE’S GAVIN? On vacation with his family in Central and South America until April 12.

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Top Talkers

SPEAKING OF CLIMATE CHANGE … “100-degree temps on tap as heat wave comes to SoCal,” by the LA Times’ Hayley Smith: “The punishing heat wave in Southern California will deliver triple-digit temperatures, elevate fire danger and increase the chance of heat-related illnesses Thursday and Friday, officials said.”

SHOOTING UPDATES — “New videos, details upend narrative of Sacramento massacre that killed six ,” by the LA Times’ Jessica Garrison, Richard Winton, Anita Chabria, Brittny Mejia, Hannah Wiley, and Libor Jany: “When police first arrived at the scene of the shooting in the heart of downtown Sacramento on Sunday around 2 a.m., they came across bodies lying on the street.”

— “ Mass shooting suspect served less time with California law,” by the AP’s Dom Thompson: “Smiley Allen Martin was freed in February after serving time for punching a girlfriend, dragging her from her home by her hair and whipping her with a belt, according to court and prison records. Those count as nonviolent offenses under California law, which considers only about two dozen crimes to be violent felonies — things like murder, rape, arson and kidnapping.”

TESTED POSITIVE — “Nancy Pelosi and other lawmakers test positive for the coronavirus,” by the New York Times’ Emily Cochrane: “Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California tested positive for the coronavirus, her office said on Thursday, the latest high-profile official to do so as the virus spreads through Washington.”

CAMPAIGN MODE

— “Ballot initiative would tax Calif. millionaires to fund ZEVs,” by POLITICO’s Anne C. Mulkern: A proposed California ballot measure would hike taxes on wealthy residents to accelerate the state's adoption of clean cars with up to $4.5 billion annually. The measure appears to be gaining momentum, with organizers having gathered a large portion of the signatures needed to get it on the November ballot.

MONEY MOVES — “Caruso has loaned his campaign $10 million. It’s upending the mayor’s race ,” by LATimes’ Julia Wick and David Zahniser: “Billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso put $4 million into his mayoral bid this week, bringing the total that he’s loaned his campaign to $10 million. His willingness to tap his own fortune has profoundly reshaped the race since he officially entered two months ago.”

CALIFORNIA AND THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR

FUNDING POLICE — “California cities spent huge share of federal Covid relief funds on police,” by The Guardian’s Sam Levin: “Big cities in California spent large portions of their federal Covid relief money on police departments, a review of public records has revealed, with several cities prioritizing police funding by a wide margin.”

NEW YORK DID IT — “Gas Tax Holiday and Alcohol-to-Go Coming to New York in Budget Deal ,” by NBC New York: The budget, as introduced in the Assembly, would suspend portions of the state's gas tax for both unleaded and diesel from June 1 to Dec. 31. The state now gets about 33 cents a gallon, and the deal would cover about 16 cents of that. Also included in the budget is a provision extending the popular pandemic-era alcohol-to-go rules, letting restaurants sell booze for take-out or delivery for the next three years as long as it's accompanied by a "substantial food item."”

FACT CHECK — “Does Gavin Newsom exaggerate California’s economic health? Here are facts he doesn’t discuss,” by Sac Bee’s David Lightman: “Gov. Gavin Newsom likes to tout what he calls the strong, vibrant California economy. He doesn’t mention the less flattering statistics.”

4-DAY WORK WEEK — “Could California mandate a four-day workweek? A state bill is pushing for the change,” by SF Chronicle’s Chase DiFeliciantonio: “ A bill moving through the state Legislature, Assembly Bill 2932, would change the definition of a workweek from the current 40 hours to 32 hours for companies with more than 500 employees, and require overtime pay for making employees work longer than four full days a week.”

— “California senator proposes checks for low-income, homeless high school seniors ,” by CalMatters’ Jeanne Kuang: “State Sen. Dave Cortese, a Democrat from Campbell, is sponsoring a bill for the state to give no-strings-attached checks to about 15,000 high school seniors who have experienced homelessness, starting from around the time of graduation to their fall enrollment in college or vocational school or their entry into the workforce.”

— “ Palm Springs looks to create a universal basic income pilot for trans residents,” by NPR’s Jaclyn Diaz: “The work to develop this program comes as conservative legislatures across the U.S. implement laws targeting transgender people.”

BIDEN, HARRIS AND THE HILL

— “Harris presided as Jackson was confirmed, but no Black women had a vote ,” by the New York Times’ Emily Cochrane: “It should be noted that Newsom faced significant pressure to appoint a Black woman to the Senate seat left vacant by Harris back in 2020. Instead, he opted for then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the first Latino to represent California in the Senate.”

SHIFTING BLAME — “Trump deflects blame for Jan. 6 silence, says he wanted to march to Capitol ,” by the New York Times’ Josh Dawsey: “Former president Donald Trump voiced regret Wednesday over not marching to the U.S. Capitol the day his supporters stormed the building, and he defended his long silence during the attack by claiming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others were responsible for ending the deadly violence.”

HOLLYWOODLAND

TO THE RESCUE — “Actress Jena Malone rescues dog in Hollywood-esque citizen’s arrest,” by the Washington Posts’ Julian Mark: “Video obtained by KNBC showed several people beating the man — including one who appeared to repeatedly strike him with a pole — even after the dog had been rescued. They subdued him until the police arrived, saying they were conducting a citizen’s arrest, the news station reported.”

— “Here’s what really happened after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, ” by the LA Times’ Glenn Whipp and Josh Rotenberg: “Among the most contentious points: An Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences statement said that Smith ‘was asked to leave the ceremony and refused.’”

— “Man arrested in shooting of Lady Gaga’s dog walker erroneously released from jail, ” by the LA Times’ Gregory Yee.

MIXTAPE

HAPPY ACCIDENT — “Woman wins $10-million lottery prize after accidentally buying ticket in Tarzana,” by the LA Times’ Nathan Solis.

LAWSUITS — “Workers are suing their bosses to get their work-from-home costs reimbursed,” by the LA Times’ Hugo Mart́n.

CONTROVERSIAL CARBS — “ This new food-delivery app sold the Bay Area’s best pastries. But the bakeries had no clue,” by the SF Chronicle’s Elena Kadvany.

— “Why Haven’t You Tried LA’s $1 Rideshare App Yet? ” by KnockLA’s Juliet Bennet-Rylah.

HOT MARKET — “Are 1,818 Airbnbs Too Many in Joshua Tree?” by NYT’s Heather Murphy.

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