An ordinance sponsored by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi
that seeks to establish greenhouse gas reduction targets
was given preliminary approval by the Board of Supervisors yesterday.
Photo by Luke Thomas
By Ari Burack
April 30, 2008
San Francisco supervisors Tuesday gave preliminary approval to an ordinance seeking to establish enforceable greenhouse gas reduction targets for the city.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, would set firm targets that in addition to reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, would further reduce emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2017, 40 percent by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050.
The legislation would exceed current state requirements that greenhouse gas emissions be lowered to 1990 levels by 2020, and according to Mirkarimi, would give San Francisco the strongest emissions regulations of any city in the state.
Mirkarimi has suggested that reductions targets could be achieved through improved energy-efficient building and energy usage standards; through sustainable transportation programs; and by increasing the usage of renewable power by the city.
Under his proposed law, city departments would be required to meet the reductions targets, and to issue action plans annually with specific recommendations on how to reduce emissions in both department operations and in private sector emissions sources regulated by that department.
The program would be overseen by the city’s Department of the Environment, and while Mirkarimi said the ordinance would provide a “very stringent framework” to achieve those goals, the law itself only requires non-compliance be reported to the Mayor’s office and the Board of Supervisors.
Mirkarimi has indicated possible enforcement routes through department incentives, or punitive actions through the budget process.
The ordinance passed unanimously on its first reading by the full board. A final vote will likely take place at the board’s next meeting.
The mayor’s office has said that Mayor Gavin Newsom fully supports the proposal.
The Hunger Site
April 30, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Laudable goals indeed. Just one problem with it. There’s no enforcement provisions in reality. The ordinance just says that each city department has to report if they are not in compliance. After that? Nothing.
Sort of like telling your teenager to stop getting stoned but to please report to you if he does.