Fall 2010

ICLEI Assistance To California Local Governments

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) will be delivering a comprehensive series of trainings to California cities and counties on the climate action planning process, as part of an innovative collaboration of key nonprofits and utilities in the Golden State, with the first trainings being offered in October. The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) will be sponsoring this new initiative that will combine the development and delivery of a suite of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management tools designed to give local governments the ability to accurately assess their carbon footprint and take decisive actions to reduce it.

This initiative will enable local governments to develop greenhouse gas emissions inventories, establish emissions reductions targets, develop climate action plans, and take steps to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The resources to be developed under this program will have a lasting impact throughout the state, catalyzing action at the local level to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas.

Over the course of the next two and a half years, ICLEI will provide 40 free in-person trainings and 25 free webinars statewide. The in-person trainings will be offered in the following ten regions:

• Border and San Diego
• South Coast
• Los Angeles County North
• Inland Empire
• Central Coast
• Monterey Bay Area
• San Joaquin Valley and adjacent mountain regions
• Sacramento Area and adjacent mountain regions
• San Francisco Bay Area
• North State and Redwood Coast

Participating in the SEEC training series offers many major advantages for local governments and planning agencies.

• Money savings: Developing climate and energy strategies can help your local government slash energy costs to save precious taxpayer dollars. Conducting a GHG emissions inventory will show you exactly where you’re wasting energy and identify opportunities to become more efficient.
• Free resources: SEEC is completely free. You’ll receive at no cost a suite of resources and trainings that local governments in other states might pay thousands to access.
• Networking opportunities: By participating in SEEC’s free training events, you can network with other local government staff in your region who are facing similar issues; you can share regional best practices and approaches, and identify regional barriers to successful climate action planning.
• Climate leadership: Through SEEC, you’ll learn step-by-step how your local government and community can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change – which is going to have major adverse impacts in California over the coming decades. By taking action now to address climate change, your local government and elected officials can be recognized for their leadership on climate and energy issues.
• Community benefits: Measures to reduce GHG emissions and energy consumption – from transportation to buildings and infrastructure – typically have many co-benefits. They can improve air quality and public health, stimulate the local economy and create green jobs, and make communities more livable and walkable.
• Regulatory preparedness: Through legislation such as AB 32 and SB 375, the State of California has shown national leadership on climate change. The trainings and tools provided will help local governments in California better understand what is expected by the State to play their part in meeting climate protection goals.

The first workshops will take place in October:

• October 19, Santa Clarita — Conducting a Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Local Government Operations
• October 21, Downey — Conducting a Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Local Government Operations
• October 27, Goleta — Conducting a Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Local Government Operations
• October 28, Inland Empire — Conducting a Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Local Government Operations

More information about the program and ICLEI can be found at http://www.californiaseec.org.

SEEC is a collaboration created and implemented by the following nonprofits and utilities:

• ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA
• The Institute for Local Government
• The Local Government Commission
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company
• San Diego Gas and Electric Company
• Southern California Edison Company
• Southern California Gas

The collaborative is designed to build upon the unique resources, expertise and local agency relationships of each nonprofit organization, as well as those of the four investor-owned utilities.