Issue Position: Environment

Issue Position

Gavin plans to advance California's proud tradition of resource conservation and environmental innovation through the Lieutenant Governor's office.

The Lieutenant Governor serves on several State commissions that make important environmental decisions, including the State Lands Commission, the Ocean Protection Council, and the Boards of Regents of the University of California and California State University systems. The office also oversees and directs the Commission for Economic Development, which can be a important venue for expanding clean energy and technology jobs.

Gavin's primary environmental goals for the Lieutenant Governor's Office include:

1. Conserving California's natural resources: California's land, coast and waterways make California a healthy, beautiful and unique place to live. Gavin will work to keep these resources unpolluted and open to all Californians through fostering new policies to expand public access and protect land and water from pollution and inappropriate uses. Gavin plans to lead conservation efforts in a variety of ways, including:
* Oppose expansion of offshore oil drilling. We need to put to rest the current debate about whether the State should approve the first new offshore oil drilling in 40 years. Expansion of off-shore oil drilling in California moves us in the wrong direction away from a sustainable energy policy that can be a model to the rest of the US.
* Maximize accessible open space on state lands. Through the Lieutenant Governor seat on the State Lands Commission, fight to keep California's open spaces accessible to all.
* As a member of the Oceans Protection Council, work to ensure the full and appropriate implementation of the recently passed Marine Life Protection Act.
* Work to secure sustainability certification for all of California's state fisheries. Securing official sustainability certification for state fisheries will catalyze greater environmental sustainability, ensure adequate implementation of the Marine Protected Areas, and expand economic returns to fisherman.
* Work to secure permanent funding solutions for the California Coastal Commission, so their essential mission protection of coastal resources is not compromised.

2. Fighting climate change and pollution: California has led the US in efforts to reduce air pollution and fight climate change. California's long-standing energy policies have lessened power plant pollution and saved consumers billions of dollars. New policies such as the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32) chart a path toward a cleaner energy future. The Lieutenant Governor can play an important role in this effort:
* Public champion and marshal support AB32 and other ground-breaking environmental policies that will clean our air and lead American efforts to reduce climate change.
* Develop a comprehensive planning strategy for public lands based to adapt to changing weather patterns and conditions due to climate change.
* Limit land use developments that do not adequately consider the future consequences of climate change (for example development in low lying areas or in regions with little water).
* Through his positions on both Boards of Regents, prioritize research and education toward energy and environmental innovation.

3. Transitioning to clean energy generation: California has led the nation by implementing energy policy to wean our country's dependence on fossil fuels. It is now poised to be the center of new, cleaner energy generation to power our homes, business, cars and other forms of transportation. The Lieutenant Governor can play an important role in advancing the transition to cleaner energy generation:
* Through his seat on the State Lands Commission, facilitate renewable energy generation (solar, wind, geothermal, appropriate biofuels production) on state lands where environmentally appropriate.
* Promote renewable ocean-based energy. The State Lands Commission and the Ocean Protection Council should aggressively assess the potential of new renewable energy sources (wave and tidal power in oceans and solar, wind and geothermal on land) in ways that are environmentally appropriate.
* Expanding the UC and Cal-State Systems role in leading research and development of new, clean energy technologies.

4. Growing the clean energy economy: California is already well positioned to grow new jobs and capture billions of dollars of investment in the clean technology sector. Companies in this expanding sector are developing new, cleaner forms of energy and developing good jobs across the state. California currently receives 40% of all clean technology investment in the US, XX billion dollars in YEAR. The Lieutenant Governor can [will] advance this effort by championing policy that grows the clean technology sector. Gavin would pursue this agenda in several ways.
* Advance an agenda of policies and incentives through the Commission on Economic Development to ensure California retains our "first mover' status as an innovation hub for clean technologies.
* Support workforce development efforts at the UC and Cal State systems to train the next generation of clean technology professionals.

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