30x30: Needs volunteers by Mary Buxton

Author: Gladwyn d'Souza | Category: Environment | Date: 02-25-2021

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By Mary Buxton.
 
30 x 30 is the most comprehensive and exciting climate / biodiversity effort in CA, the US and worldwide! The 30 x 30 goals address everything the Sierra Club stands for and we need lots of volunteers to make this happen. 
 
In January, 2020, the UN Convention on Biodiversity Proposed Protection of at Least 30 Percent of the Planet by 2030, that addresses the two worldwide existential crises: climate and extinction of species / loss of biodiversity. In 2020, CA Assemblyman Ash Kalra introduced CA bill AB 3030 to establish statewide 30 x 30 goals as well as support regional, national and international 30 x 30 efforts including improved access for people of color and the economically disadvantaged. This bill did not pass in 2020 but was picked up by Governor Newsom who issued CA Executive Order (EO N-82-20) in October, 2020.  The Governor's Executive Order set these science based goals to 1) protect land,water wildlife, 2) slow, reverse the climate crisis and 3) build a just / equitable society with equitable access to public lands. CA EO 82-20 (or colloquially, CA 30 x 30) will combine with the CA Climate Smart Land Strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. To complete the vertical tiers of influence, in February, 2021, President Biden issued a 30 x 30 US Executive order. 
The CA Department of Natural Resources was tasked with implementing the 30 x30 Goals set out in the Governor's Executive Order.  See https://resources.ca.gov/Initiatives/Building-Climate-Resilience.  
 
2021 will be a year of statewide assessment to create a 10 year pathway document to reach 30 x 30 goals in California by 2030.  Each CA Department of Natural Resources agency will hold collaborative public listening sessions in 2021. The plan is due on the Governor's desk at the beginning of 2022. 
 
The Sierra Club in California is well situated to inform the state of CA with issues and ideas to fill the 30 x 30 bucket. The Sierra Club CA will develop a 30 x 30 statewide task force.  Sierra Club members will soon receive 2 surveys: 1) an interest survey for a statewide task force. Interested members can participate on the state or local levels of the statewide task force  2) a survey of the  local conservation priorities for land, water, urban access & improved access to nature. For more information: https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/program/documents/30x30Conservation_Lands_FactSheet_07_web.pdf
 
Chapter members are encouraged to join the Chapter 30x30 Sub-committee of the Environmental Legislation Action Team.  We will put together local chapter conservation & restoration priorities to be the raised to the Sierra Club state task force and coordinated with local officials. Examples: 
 
  • Bay 2030 - climate change mitigation/adaptation & restoration 
  • Add Cargill and it restoration to the Don Edwards National Wildlife refugee.
  • Ask for managed retreat from sea level rise so that wetlands can migrate landward.
  • Make Coyote Valley a state park.
  • Restore a number of creeks based on FEMA projected flood maps.
  • Restore the hydrologic cycle in the High Fire Zones with forests, grasslands and wetlands.
 

The state task force will need to either answer or get legislation at the state level that answers: 

 
  • How is carbon content and pollutants determined? 
  • What would be a fair price on carbon through the Cap and Trade program based on impacts and target timelines?
  • What would constitute a shelf ready project?
Please join this exciting effort by emailing Mary Buxton [email protected]

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Sue C.
30 x 30 is a very important project that will do a lot to restore ecosystems to a healthy state. We hope it's just a beginning as we move towards E.O. Wilson's "Half Earth" goal of setting aside 50% of the earth's lands and seas for preservation and restoration. Hopefully, more ...Read more people will jump on this bandwagon, so that policy-makers will see the tremendous grass roots support for this ambitious undertaking. If you are interested, contact the Sierra Club (Loma Prieta Chapter) conservation committee chair, Gladwyn d'Souza. [email protected] Less

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