The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors recently approved a Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP) designed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The plan aims to decrease emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2026 and 85% by 2045, ultimately working towards carbon neutrality. The board established stricter GHG standards for new developments requiring California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, setting the threshold 35% lower than what RCAP proposed.
The RCAP includes 12 strategies primarily focused on reducing transportation emissions, which account for the largest portion of the county’s projected 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions in 2022. Strategies involve promoting efficient land use, transitioning government vehicles to cleaner options, enhancing carbon storage in forests, and improving efficiency in water and wastewater systems.
Discussions around GHG thresholds for new developments revealed confusion, particularly when comparing proposed levels with recommendations from the Planning Commission. Some board members expressed concerns about the implications for local builders and rural heating methods. After a lengthy discussion, the board compromised on a GHG threshold 35% below RCAP levels, receiving unanimous approval for the proposal, as local environmental activists voiced strong support for adopting RCAP and lower thresholds.
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