2010 Caring for Creation Conference - OC ICE

2010 Caring for Creation

Conference

“The Present State of the O.C. Sustainability Community”

By Montgomery Norton

Saturday, October 30, 2010

St. Mark Presbyterian Church,

2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach, CA

“The city is first a holy place.” – Kevin Lynch & Lewis Mumford

Indigenous Knowledge

• Alternative or intervention strategy for mitigating, if not solving, our ecological and economic problems?

• American Indian Resource Program - UC Irvine– http://www.airp.uci.edu/index.php

• The OC Native American Sacred Sites Task Force– http://angeles.sierraclub.org/ocosc/sacred_sites.htm

Asking the Right Questions - Native Perspectives on Sustainability

Nikishna Polequaptewa

Orange HillsSaddleback Canyons

The founding of Western Sustainability

• “In 1789, Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to James Madison arguing that a federal bond should be paid within one generation of the debt, because, as he put it, the earth belongs to the living. No man can by natural right oblige the lands he occupied, or the persons who succeeded him in that occupation, to the payment of debts contracted by him. For if he could, he might, during his own life, eat up the usufruct of the lands for several generations to come, and then the lands would belong to the dead, and not to the living.”

Source: Braungart, M. & McDonough, W. (2002). Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the way we make things. NY: North Point Press, pp. 185-186.

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://www.stowevintage.com/images/james%20madison%20image.gif

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://thebsreport.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/thomas_jefferson_by_charles_willson_peale_17912.jpg

Sustainability• "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs

of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts:– the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's

poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and– the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social

organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.”

• Our Common Future, the Brundtland Report -

UN World Commission on Environment and Development,

1987

The three E’s• Ecology, Economy, Equity

– “Ecology (from Greek: οίκος, oikos, "household"; and λόγος, logos,"knowledge The term ecology or oekologie was coined by the German biologist Ernst Haeckel in 1866, when he defined it as "the comprehensive science of the relationship of the organism to the environment.”

– “The word ‘Economics’ has its origin in the Greek ‘Oikonomikós’ (relating to household management), from ‘Oikos’ (house). A household was the unit of economy, literally. The family worked the farm, grew its own food, cooked its own meals, and took out its own trash. Sound economy meant sound management of the household.”

– Social Equity / Equity and the Common Interest

Source: Retrieved November 29, 2010 from http://www.eoearth.org/files/111501_111600/111577/300px-

Sustainable_development_triangle.gif

Social Justice

• “CEQA requires only an analysis of the physical environmental effects, not the social impacts, of a given action” (Waterman, 2007)

• Access to affordable housing and employment opportunities

(jobs/housing balance) Source:http://egov.ocgov.com/vgnfiles/ocgov/CEO/Docs/2009%20Community%20Indicators.pdf

EPA: Environmental Justice

• "Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

• (This) will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work." Source: Environmental Protection Agency. (2009). Environmental Justice.

Retrieved May 13, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/

Source: Retrieved November 1, 2010 from http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2010/08-19/20100819_gfx_toxic_400.jpg

Environmental Justice

• “No group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies” - EPA

Cited in Bullard, R.D., (2005). The Quest for Environmental Justice: Human rights and the politics of pollution. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books.

Source: Retrieved November 1, 2010 from http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/files/2010/07/toxictracts.jpg

The Limits to Positivism

• Rather than attachment to linear progress of scientific and technological advancement based on historically outdated assumptions about human nature, an evolutionary wise method of adaptation would recognize inappropriate belief systems and values that threaten to destroy the environment and thus the cradle of civilization (Clarke & Gaile, 1997).

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://listverse.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/positivism.gif

Remarks by Bill MoyersRemarks by Bill MoyersUCI – November 14, 2005

Sponsored by the School of Social Ecology

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://telmacriartesaquarema.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://www.allbestpictures.com/travel_and_holiday-corcovado_overlooking_rio_de_janeiro,_brazil_picture.html

Nature’s Laws

• Nature uses only the energy it needs• Nature runs on sunlight• Nature fits form to function• Nature recycles everything• Nature rewards cooperation• Nature banks on diversity• Nature demands local expertise• Nature curbs excesses from within• Nature taps the power of limits

Source: Benyus, J.M. (1997). Biomimicry: Innovation inspired by nature. NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. pp.7.

http://www.cairnsunlimited.com/images/i/lush_rainforest.jpg

Positive Feedback Loops

• Artic Sea Ice

• Antarctic/Greenland Ice Shelves

• Jobs/Housing balance

• Real Estate/Mortgage Crisis

Community Indicators

• Orange County is the third largest county in California, and the fifth largest county in the nation, with more residents than 22 of the country’s states.

• Within the U.S., OC is the 15th top producing economy in the nation.

• Over the past 10 years, OC’s growth rate (75%) has outpaced the state (69%) and the nation (70%).

• OC’s pop. Continues to diversify both racially and ethnically.

Source: Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://egov.ocgov.com/vgnfiles/ocgov/CEO/Docs/2010%20Community%20Indicators.pdf

OC Sustainability Indicators

• In 2010, the OC Community Indicators Report added two particular Sustainability indicators measuring Renewable Energy and Green Jobs.

• Green Jobs: are in industries that provide products and services related to alternative energy, resource conservation, and pollution reduction.

Quality of Life

• “In order to maintain an economic edge over its peers, OC must address the high costs associated with conducting business or work diligently to preserve other quality of life assets that make it a desirable place to live and work; such as high-quality educational institutions, low crime, and cultural and recreational opportunities.” - Orange County Community Indicators: A decade in review, pp. 11

Police Power:The purpose of local government

• The authority conferred upon the states by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and which the states delegate to their political subdivisions to enact measures to preserve and protect the safety, health, welfare, and morals of the community.

Core Green Economy SegmentsAccording to Next 10’s report: “Many Shades of Green:

Diversity and distribution of California’s Green Jobs”

• Advanced Materials• Air and Environment• Agriculture• Business Services• Energy Infrastructure• Energy Efficiency• Energy Storage• Finance and Investment

• Green Building• Research and

Advocacy• Manufacturing and

Industrial• Recycling and Waste• Renewable Energy

Generation• Green Transportation• Water and Wastewater

Source: Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://www.nextten.org/next10/pdf/Many_Shades_of_Green_1209.pdf

Federal Stimulus Funding

U.S CA OC

Population 304,059,724 36,756,666 3,010,759

Total recovery funding

$355,821,708,578

$41,658,121,612

$1,494,626,566

Funding per Capita $1,170 $1,133 $496

Unemployment 2008 5.8 7.2 5.3

2009 +3.59.3 +4.211.4 +3.79.0

April 2010 9.9 12.3 9.5

Median Household Income

$50,007 $58,361 $71,601

Poverty Rate 13.3% 13.0% 9.3%

Source: Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://projects.propublica.org/recovery/locale/california/orange

County Differences

• Why the disparage?– Some say because of the federal representation

from the Bay area…– Others say because of our federal representation

here in OC…

Location Total Per capita

Sacramento $11.18 billion $8,021

Los Angeles County $6.68 billion $687

San Diego County $1.68 billion $558

Orange County $1.29 billion $439

Source: Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://economy.ocregister.com/2010/03/16/was-o-c-shortchanged-on-stimulus-aid/29215/

Business Ranking by RegionAccording to Forbes magazine’s “2009 Best Places for Business”, based

on rankings of the 200 largest metro areas across the country.

Ranking by Component (chosen by report) Rank

Educational Attainment 29

Job Growth 123

Cost of Doing Business 184

Overall 107

Overall Rank 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

OC 27 58 70 92 107

Source: Retrieved October 18, 2010 from http://www.ocgov.com/vgnfiles/ocgov/CEO/Docs/2010%20Community%20Indicators.pdf

Ranking compared to 200 largest metro areas across the country.

California Environmental Legislation

• AB 32 (2006)

• SB 375 (2008)

• SB 97 (2009)

• AB 1881 (2009)

• AB 939 (1989)

• CA Green Building Code (2010) Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010

from http://www.planete-et-co.com/images/green_california.jpg

Retrieved November 1, 2010 from http://ceres.ca.gov/ceqa/images/CEQA_process_chart.gif

CEQA: the California Environmental Quality Act (1970), relies on public litigation for enforcement.

Water and Energy• Water, (Food), and Energy are interdependent although rarely

integrated in policy (Moresco, J., 2009).• Considering energy and water together could offer substantial

economic and environmental benefits• Water-related energy use “consumes about 19 percent of the

state’s electricity, 30 percent of its natural gas, and 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel every year (Krebs, 2007, p. 3).

Water Element

• Recommended inclusion by Office of Planning & Research’s 2003 General Plan Guidelines

• Water management covered by 5/7 mandatory elements, but disconnect between the land use and water planning functions - water supply nor quality, only flooding

• Collaboration with water agency’s Urban Water Management Plan

Santa Ana Watershed (SAWPA): Regional Sustainability Planning

Description Electricity Use (million kWh)

Natural Gas (milliion Therms)

Agricultural Production-Crops

2,996 140

Agricultural Production-Livestock

1,107 16

Agricultural Services 1,068 38

Source: The California Energy Commission. (2009). http://www.energy.ca.gov/research/iaw/industry/agri.html

Agriculture and Energy

Why is the production crop sector the biggest energy consumer?

Agriculture is the 3rd largest consumer of electricity & natural gas in CA by industry.

Local Sustainability Policies

• Environmental and Sustainability Programs Survey

• Gaps:– Sustainability Element– Water Element– Community Sustainable Food

Policy/Program– Comprehensive Inclusive Process– Green Jobs Ordinance/Program– Green Roofs Program

Plans vs. Policies

• Environmental / Climate Action Plans• Energy Plan• General Plans• Zero Waste Resolution• Construction and Demolition Ordinance• Implementation Tools/Programs

– Building Code– Zoning Ordinance– Housing Regulations– Development Agreements

Source: Retrieved October 27, 2010 from http://orangecounty.uli.org/Initiative%20Councils/~/media/DC/Orange%20County/OC%20Documents/ClimateChange3.ashx

General Plans• “Identify the community’s land use, circulation, environmental,

economic, and social goals and policies as they relate to land use and development.”

Source: Office of Planning and Research. (2003). General Plan Guidelhttp://www.opr.ca.gov/planning/publications/General_Plan_Guidelines_2003.pdfines.

General Plans

• The general plan also serves to: Provide citizens with opportunities to participate in the planning and decision-making processes of their communities.

Recommendations• Process for Product

– Collaboration, Education, Engagement, Stewardship

• Youth and Planning• Web-based General Plan (i.e. Ontario)• Sustainable Food Policy• Green Assessment Districts• Water Element• Collaborative Resources, Best Practices• Regional Cooperation & Planning• Green Jobs

Source: Retrieved October 27, 2010 from http://orangecounty.uli.org/Initiative%20Councils/~/media/DC/Orange%20County/OC%20Documents/ClimateChange2.ashx

OCCOG• Orange County Council of

Governments– SubRegional Metro Planning

Organization– Public meetings 4th Thursday of the

month 10:30-12:00

• SB 375 - Sustainable Community Strategy (OC - SCS)– LSA Associates, inc. consulting– BMPs– www.oc-scs.org

• “High Risk” designation lifted - $2M in grants available (Caltrans)

SB 375

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SB 375 - A Developers PerspectiveBob Santos• “Since the 1950s more than 90% of all growth in US

metro areas has been in suburbs-with CA leading the way!”

• Europe’s transit village form encourages car-free urban living (TOD)

• SB 375 incentives: TOD, Infill, Mixed-Use• “90% of Americans want to live in communities where

people can walk more and drive less”• OC’s 1M proj. growth could be accommodated if only

50% of 700 existing commercial sites converted to TOD

• “CEO Will Kempton recently signed the American Public Transportation Association’s Sustainability Commitment” - OCTA Website

• “OCTA Challenges Local Corporations to Go Green” - OC Business Journal

Source: Retrieved October 19, 2010 from http://www.octa.net/weeklyupdate/weekly_update_071210.html

E-Waste Research at UCI• National Science Foundation

• Research and Education in Green Materials

• SB 1397: Electronic Device Recycling Research and Development Act

• AB 1879 & SB 509: CA Green Chemistry Initiative (2008)

UCI's E-waste expert

The Urban Land Institute- OC / IE

• Initiative Councils:– Edge Development - “Principles of Edge

Development: A new vision for designing on the edge”

– Sustainable Communities - “Truecost pricing for sustainable development; Finding the real bottomline in sustainability”

Green Development Survey - The Concord Group

• The Concord Group’s survey was to measure the near- and long-term outlook of green development practices in commercial real estate in the context of today’s recessionary climate.

• In the short-term, municipalities will be one of very few groups involved in sustainable development. During the downturn the public sector will look to pass new green legislation and retrofit public buildings with green features.

• During the economic recovery, there will likely be a sharp increase in green property acquisitions as investors and financiers try to position themselves for a long-term future in real estate, undoubtedly filled with green development opportunities.

• As capital markets unfreeze during the economic recovery, investors will look to position themselves for a green development-driven future by acquiring sustainable properties. This will lead a sudden, momentary rise in the sale price premium.

• In the long-term, sustainable development will become an industry standard, with a continued emphasis on real cost savings and government-imposed environmental benefits associated with green technology.

Source: Retrieved October 27, 2010 from http://orangecounty.uli.org/Initiative%20Councils/~/media/DC/Orange%20County/OC%20Documents/ConcordGroupGreenDevelopmentSurvey.ashx

USGBC - OC

• LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

• Green Campus program

• Environmental Nature Center - Platinum

• Increase productivity, improve health, conserve natural resources, and cost less to operate and maintain

Source: Retrieved October 28, 2010 from http://www.usgbc-oc.org/index.php

Waste Management

• CA AB 939 (1989)– Integrated Waste Management Act

• Waste Management of OC– CA IWMB’s Waste Reduction Award

• TVI, Irvine– e-waste recycling, greenwaste, composting

• Goodwill of OC– E-waste collection

• OC Waste & Recycling - County of Orange– E-waste, OC Grand Jury “Going Green” award

E-Waste• Fastest growing municipal

waste stream in the U.S.

• 68% of consumers stockpile used or unwanted computer equipment in their homes.

• It is estimated that the world generates over 40 million tons of e-waste every year. That’s almost 12 pounds for every man, woman and child on the planet, every year!

Ecollective by ECS Refining

Source: Retrieved October 26, 2010 from http://www.myecollective.com/

eRecycle.org

League of CA Cities OC Division

• The mission of the Orange County League of Cities is to restore and protect local control for cities through education and advocacy to enhance the quality of life in Orange County.

• Targets elected officials to address current economic challenges

• Educates on Best Practices with regard to sustainability initiatives, regional planning efforts, and new regulations and programs

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://sellingorangecounty.com/images/265px-OrangeCountyCA_Map.gif

• CleanTech OC Conference & Expo (9/27/10)

• Renewable Energy Generation

• Resource Conservation

• Alternative Fuel Vehicles

• Green Buildings & Green Chemistry

CleanTechOC

Sustainability Businesses

• 497 Businesses listed in the Green Guide Network for OC

• Headings: Eat (78), Home (44), Services (82), Get Involved (14), House & Construction (57), Travel (0), Energy & Technology (49), Recycling (90), Shopping & Goods (40), Health & Beauty (24), Parks & Recreation (19)

Source: Retrieved October 28, 2010 from http://www.greenguidenetwork.com/orangecounty/your-city/

Hyundai Motor Co.

Hyundai Facilities Across Orange County:

• Costa Mesa - Logistic Operations

• Fountain Valley - Regional Sales Office

• Fountain Valley - Hyundai Motor America, U.S. Headquarters

• Huntington Beach - Innocean Worldwide Advertising

• Irvine - Design and Technology Center

• Irvine - Hyundai Capital

OC Green Team 2010

Source: http://www.ocmetro.com/topiccategoryarchived.aspx

Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4g8WE-VtHn4/THLHn9uLQOI/AAAAAAAABW4/5-GdbQEtVBE/S350/NV+OC+Metro+062010+Cover.jpeg

Source: http://www.ocmetro.com/images/Topic/medium/topic_med_3557.jpg

Local Political Support

• Irvine Mayor, Suhkee Kang• Councilmember, former Mayor, and Congressional Candidate Beth Krom• Costa Mesa Councilmembers Katrina Foley and Linda Dixon• CA Assemblywoman Candidate, Melissa Fox• Santa Ana Mayor, Miguel Pulido - Chair U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Energy

Committee, Co-Chair CleanTech OC, & Board Director of OCTA• Orange County Supervisor, Bill Campbell

OC Great Park

OC Sustainability Collaborative

July 2009

OCSC Overview

Local Gov.Campus Community

UC Irvine

Community

Sust. OrgsSust. Leaders

Sust.Businesses

UC Irvine Research Centers

~ 30 relevant to Sustainability

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://www.chem.uci.edu/airuci/

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 from http://cfse.ps.uci.edu/

Source: http://www.nfcrc.uci.edu/2/default.aspx

Source: http://www.uwrc.uci.edu/#

• The Green & Gold Plan (1995)• 8 LEED Gold Buildings & 7 more in the portfolio process• 1 MW Solar Installation• 100% Biodiesel Bus Fleet• 12 Sustainability Student Groups• “Global problem, local response” - Diane Pataki• Sustainable Dining Program• Climate Action and Sustainability Plan (2008)• Sierra Club's Cool Schools Ranking• UC Policy on Sustainable Practices (2009)

UCI Sustainability Video

Local Colleges and Universities

• OCC - Added Sustainability as a value to their Academic Master Plan 2008-2011

• Irvine Valley College - Environmental Sustainability Task Force

• CSU Fullerton - Center for Sustainability

• UCI Extension - Sustainability Leadership Certificate Program - 5 Course areas

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Center for Sustainable Living

• Focused exclusively on Orange County

• The goal of the CSL is to promote the development of green education, jobs and public policies

• The CSL works to provide – high quality research– train future “green” leaders

and managers– educate the public

Sustainability Leadership Pipeline• Experience working with campus entities and community stakeholders is of

significant value to students’ confidence, experience, resume-building, and practical job-skills.

• Students are increasingly nervous about entering the job market given current economic conditions.

• Although many academic departments offer internship opportunities in traditional disciplines, the market is progressing toward hybrid and interdisciplinary experience.

• Sustainability, systems dynamics, and integrated job skills are in high demand.

Sourced from: http://synerg.org/index.php/about_us/staff/

Student Sustainability Coalition

• Anteaters for Recycling & Conservation

• AGS• ASUCI• CalPIRG• Clean Education• Engineers w/out Borders• Environmental Law Society• Global Water Brigades • Green Campus

• Irvine Students Against Animal Cruelty

• OC Society for Conservation Biology

• Radical Student Union• Real Food Challenge• Students for Sust• Sust Energy Tech Club• The Green Initiative Fund• Worker-Student Alliance

The Green Initiative Fund• Student fee referendum investing in sustainability

initiatives on campus

• Subsidizing capital projects through rotating funds and income generation

• $110,000/year in grants

TGIF

Source: http://www.asuci.uci.edu/tgif/images/logo.jpg

Social Media & Sustainability

• Creating innovative communication networks through social media and web-based visual applications

• Building databases of sustainability support, orgs, events & projects

• OC Green Drinks, OC Green (27) and Sustainability (17) Meetup Groups, Facebook Groups

Sourced from: http://www.sdialogue.com/images/socmedia-sust-circles.jpg

GWC

Media Production & Sustainability

• Student Group sponsored by OCSC• Student productions on sustainability• Collaborations w/ community orgs &

events• Building an archive of footage• Promoting sustainability best

practices, awareness, education, research metrics, the message of the movement

Focus the Nation TGIFFourYearsGo

OC Food Sustainability Collaboration

• There is a profound opportunity to host the collaboration of OC food sustainability stakeholders brought together to collaborate around regional challenges and impacts.

• UC Irvine has begun to lead other UC campuses regarding Sustainable Foodservice Practices, providing and sourcing Sustainable food.

• UC Irvine has created comprehensive programs evaluating local food sourcing for the campus, hosting a campus garden, developing a composting system, and reaching out to key community stakeholders.

Source: http://ucirealfoodchallenge.weebly.com/

Community-Driven Strategic Planning• The New Public Service:

– serving citizens instead of customers, – value rather than just productivity, – and the citizen as a responsible participant in the government.

(Denhardt and Denhardt, 2000)• Grand Rapids 2002 Master Plan project: Community-Oriented Government• Civic Discovery: citizens are encouraged and empowered to identify their own

challenges and form a deliberative process to devise their own solutions. (Reich, 1988)

• Transition Towns

Source: Retrieved October 29, 2010 fromhttp://www.goinglocalokc.com/images/tt_map.jpg

Community-Driven Strategic Planning• Create a community-driven, strategic planning process that

brings people together to identify , key issues, develop a vision, set goals and benchmarks, and determine actions to improve their community.

(President’s Council on Sustainable Development, 1996)

South Coast Ecoregion -Global Biodiversity Hotspot -

Conservation International

Source: Retrieved October 27, 2010 fromhttp://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1351.cfm

Open Space

• Inside the Outdoors OC Dept of Education– http://ito.ocde.us/home.htm

• OC Wild– http://www.orangecountywild.com/

• OC Parks - County of Orange– http://www.ocparks.com/default.asp

• Santa Ana Mountains Task Force– http://www.angeles.sierraclub.org/sam/

Source: Retrieved October 27, 2010 from http://www.scwildlands.org/index.aspx

Source: Retrieved October 28, 2010 from http://www.scwildlands.org/index.aspx

Source: Retrieved October 28, 2010 from http://www.ocparks.com/irvineranchopenspace/default.asp

Habitat Conservation

• Natural Community Conservation Plans– CA Dept of Fish & Game

• Habitat Conservation Plans – US Fish & Wildlife Service,

Endangered Species Program

• CA Essential Habitat Connectivity Project

• State Wildlife Corridors Project - “Missing Linkages”

Source: City of Irvine Environmental Programs Presentation. November 13, 2007.

Green Field Development

• In-Fill Development• No $ for Master-Planned

Communities• Already existing infrastructure• Melaruse - property tax for

infrastructure• Phased redevelopment areas in

urban cores

The Future of Planning

• Design Communities as Micro Watersheds

• Low Impact Development

• 10-year per capita water use is trending downward, even during one of the longest droughts in the history of the western U.S.

Other BMP’s• Food Policy Task Force• General Plan Sustainability• Zero Waste Resolutions (Irvine - 7/10/07)• Alternative Transportation (BRT)• HOA Sustainability Programs• Community Parks• Green Jobs Ordinances• OC Cities Assessment • Green Purchasing• Lighting• Affordable/Transition Housing