BILL ANALYSIS
SJR 17
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 12, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wesley Chesbro, Chair
SJR 17 (Leno) - As Introduced: July 23, 2009
SENATE VOTE : 23-13
SUBJECT : Climate change: ocean acidification: Arctic .
SUMMARY : Resolves that the California Legislature remain
committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990
levels by 2020, and urges federal entities including the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the President, and
Congress to become leaders in addressing global climate change,
ocean acidification, and the reduction of global carbon dioxide
concentration.
EXISTING LAW : Requires the Air Resources Board (ARB), pursuant
to AB 32, to adopt a statewide GHG emissions limit equivalent to
1990 levels by 2020 and adopt regulations to achieve maximum
technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG emission
reductions.
ARB is responsible for adoption regulations to achieve this
limit, and sources of GHGs are required to monitor and report
their emissions to ARB. ARB must adopt practices and
regulations in order to meet these environmental goals, and must
evaluate the potential impacts of these activities on the
economy, environmental and public health, and on California's
natural resources.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
1)Increased Carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere adversely
affects ocean life .
CO2 production contributes to climate change, which has
significant potential impacts on California's climate,
environment, and economy. According to the Nature Publishing
Group, much of the CO2released into the atmosphere will be
absorbed into the oceans, which increases the acidity of the
ocean water. The Marine Pollution Bulletin and Current
Science reported that the consequences of this acidification
SJR 17
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include the physical characteristics of calcium carbonate
skeletons of some marine animals including corals, certain
planktons, and various shelled organisms. The Nature
Publishing Group also reported that current models predict
that without GHG abatement, CO2emissions could lead to higher
ocean acidity than at any time over the past 300 million
years. The organisms affected represent a considerable
portion of the marine food chain, and significant changes in
their populations will have subsequent effects on other
organisms in the oceans including, but not limited to algae,
fish, whales, and birds.
2)Climate change is observed in changing Arctic climate
conditions .
Global warming effects are twice as powerful in the Arctic
compared to other areas on earth. Historically, the Arctic
climate fluctuates depending on atmospheric conditions.
However, new Arctic climate change observations that are the
result of global warming include changes in snow and ice
conditions, shifts in season timing, wind speed, plant growth
patterns, and in animal diversity and behavior. An example of
this phenomenon was published in Science magazine in 2006.
Warming climate conditions will also cause a thinning of
Arctic ice layers over time, contributing to the rise in sea
level already observed at a global level. The loss of Arctic
ice also compounds the global warming effect by the release of
methane GHGs from the melting ice, and by reducing the white
ice surface area which would otherwise reflect the sun's
radiation to maintain cooler temperatures. According to a
Cambridge University research group published in Science
magazine, satellite observations of the Arctic taken since the
1970s estimate that sea level rise will be at least 0.5 meters
over the next century without GHG emission abatement.
3)Potential economic and non-economic impacts on California .
Changes in climate, weather patterns, and in ocean organism
populations could have severe impacts on California's economy.
California is a coastal state and local industries such as
fishing and tourism could be adversely affected by changes in
ocean temperatures, marine life, and weather patterns.
Agriculture is California's largest industry and is reliant on
water resources and weather patterns and is likely to be
affected as well as detrimental ocean changes result in global
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weather changes. In addition to economic impacts, sea level
rise from Arctic ice loss could affect as much as $100 billion
in sea-level property along the California coast according to
a recent California EPA Climate Action Team report. Many of
California's major international airports are also found at
sea level and would also experience adverse effects of sea
level rise. Sea level rise is also predicted to put
considerable strain on the state's clean water supply, which
affects public health as well as agriculture.
4)Urging the President, the EPA, and Congress .
The United States plays a significant role in the emission of
GHG on a global scale, its emissions seconds only to China in
tons of CO2or equivalent emission (CO2e ) , and is therefore in
a position to make a major impact on global GHG reduction.
The U.S. is also an Arctic nation and detrimental
environmental affects that occur in artic would have direct
effects on the people and animal populations living there.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Center for Biological Diversity
Natural Resources Defense Council
Oceana
Ocean Conservancy
Sportfishing Conservancy of California
United Anglers
SJR 17
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Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Jessica Westbrook / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092