Energy, Environment and Agriculture

All Californians, urban, suburban and rural, hold a shared interest in preserving and protecting the environment that sustains us. California Democrats have led the way toward effective bi-partisan solutions to problems arising from our industrial society - resource extraction, waste disposal and pollution - and their disparate impact on our forests, family farms, the poor, ethnic minorities and indigenous people.


We will work to reverse the real and imminent threat of global warming and to protect public health and our planet.

To safeguard our cherished environment, California Democrats will:

Energy
• Urge Congress to pass a comprehensive energy security and climate protection law that includes national requirements for renewable electricity generation, a reduced reliance on dirty forms of energy such as coal, and a rigorous greenhouse gas emissions cap for the nation that meets or exceeds sound scientific standards; and

• Support minimum price guarantees as a method of promoting domestic and entrepreneurial renewable energy production and to increase the percentage of renewable energy in California's power mix.

Environment
• Create green collar jobs by providing incentives for the development, production, deployment and purchase of environmentally friendly products, renewable energy systems, energy efficient goods and services, and recycled materials through public/private partnerships;

• Oppose any attempt to rollback or weaken the state’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act; by 2020, return to the state’s 1990 greenhouse gas emissions levels; produce 40 percent of California's electricity from renewable and sustainable energy sources; and reduce electricity and natural gas use by 20 percent; by 2030, produce 40 percent of the state's transportation fuels from non-petroleum sources; and support Low Carbon Fuel Standards that take into account long-term sustainability;

• Reject any attempt for new offshore oil or gas development, preserve coastal access, protect the mandates of the California Coastal Act, and support the recovery and preservation of our ocean ecosystems;

• Restore the clarity of Lake Tahoe and preserve California’s inland lakes by preventing the intrusion of new aquatic invasive species, and by protecting watersheds and surrounding forest ecosystems;

• Oppose any attempt to weaken the federal Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, or the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);

• Support a comprehensive statewide water resource management plan that includes the upper watershed areas and preserves the health of the Delta by bringing the Delta levee system to 200-year flood protection levels;

• Promote sustainable utilization and conservation of natural resources and public lands through appropriate taxation for extraction of non-renewable natural resources and thoughtful land use planning to combat suburban sprawl; reject any sale of public forestry and park lands; support dedicated funding for state parks; and safeguard California's forests through sustained yield best practices forestry, the elimination of clear cutting (and subsidies for roads to enable clear cutting) to preserve natural habitat diversity and connectivity, soil conservation measures, the preservation of heritage trees, and carbon sequestration techniques;

• Support light and heavy duty vehicle regulations to help provide healthier air for all Californians, support strong and workable low-emission and zero-emission vehicle standards that will continue to be a model for the country, and support Clean Vehicle Incentive programs; and

• Encourage the goal of “Net Zero Energy Emissions” in new home construction by 2020, and Net Zero Energy Emissions in new commercial construction by 2030, and encourage the use of fire resistant, termite-proof and energy efficient building materials in all new residential and light commercial construction.

Agriculture and Food Safety
• Provide innovative incentives that will encourage agricultural water conservation and the retention of lands for agricultural production and encourage low impact/sustainable agricultural practices;

• Curtail and phase out pesticides that pose threats to farm workers and consumers; and

• Promote food safety, appropriate food labeling and the humane treatment of animals in food production.