SB 535 (DE LEON, 2012): Advancing racial equity, addressing income inequality and climate change in California

Alvaro S. SanchezProgram ManagerThe Greenlining Institute

CLIMATE GAP

Low income communities & people of color are hit first and worst by climate change

• 60% of African Americans and Latinos live in communities with uncontrolled toxic waste.

• From 1980 to 2010, incomes from families in the bottom tenth declined 24%.

• “Toxic triangle” in CA has higher than average rates of respiratory disease, cancer, and other preventable diseases tied to pollution.

Photo credit: Climate-connections.org

Photo credit:nycsocialist.org

AB 32 (2006) Global Warming Solutions Law• Goal or returning California

to 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

AB 32’s equity shortfalls

• Lacked mandates to gauge distributional effects of AB 32.

• Did not direct revenue generated by AB 32 to the most environmentally and economically impacted communities.

SB 535 (de Leon, 2012)

1. Direct funding to areas most impacted by climate change.• 25% benefit

disadvantaged communities.

• 10% in disadvantaged communities.

2. Co-benefits:• Clean up air pollution, • Improve public health, • Support mobility choices,• Economic growth, • Create jobs.

Photo credit: sma-america.comPhoto credit: Verde Inc. Photo credit: Unity Council

Photo credit: The Oregonian

AB 32 SB 535 Ensuring Clean Air, Clean Energy and Revitalized

Communities

Thank youAlvaro S. SanchezThe Greenlining InstituteProject ManagerEnvironmental Equity alvaros@greenlining.org