The 2022 Scoping Plan Update will assess progress towards achieving the Senate Bill 32 (SB 32) 2030 target and lay out a path to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2045. Building decarbonization is important to reduce emissions to achieve California’s path to carbon neutrality and to meet air quality standards. Since the electricity grid is increasingly powered by renewable and zero-carbon sources, accelerated building electrification in the short term can play a pivotal role in achieving climate and air quality targets while providing important public health benefits. This workshop provides an opportunity to hear updates on building decarbonization efforts underway and a forum for State agencies, experts, and the public to discuss benefits, challenges, opportunities, market readiness, environmental justice considerations, and policy opportunities to advance equitable building electrification.

This workshop will inform CARB’s efforts to assess building decarbonization as part of the 2022 Scoping Plan Update, as a potential measure for the 2022 State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan (State SIP Strategy) for meeting federal air quality standards, as a proposal to the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), and other agency efforts. Stakeholder input and feedback are encouraged. 

Purpose of the Workshop

The purpose of this workshop is to discuss how building decarbonization can meet the State’s climate and air quality goals and inform CARB’s efforts to develop the 2022 Scoping Plan Update, the 2022 State SIP Strategy, future CALGreen recommendations, and other efforts.

The 2022 Scoping Plan Update will assess progress towards achieving the Senate Bill 32 2030 target and lay out a path to achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2045. The State achieved its 2020 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target four years earlier than mandated, and the 2017 Scoping Plan Update laid out a cost-effective and technologically feasible path to achieve a 40 percent reduction of GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2030. Achieving carbon neutrality will bring a number of changes to California, including moving the State away from fossil fuel combustion in a manner that supports job retention and creation as California makes a just transition towards a clean energy economy. Moreover, data shows disadvantaged communities are disproportionately impacted by fossil fuel combustion-related air pollution. A phasing out of reliance on fossil fuels will deliver greater benefits in these communities compared to non-environmental justice communities in the State. To further assist CARB in its efforts to advance environmental justice, Assembly Bill (AB) 32 mandates that CARB convene an Environmental Justice Advisory Committee to advise the Board in developing the Scoping Plan, to which the Board appointed new members on May 20, 2021. CARB will consult with the Committee throughout the development of the 2022 Scoping Plan Update to ensure that environmental justice principles and actions are incorporated into the Scoping Plan.

This workshop is part of a series of workshops CARB is hosting in support of the 2022 Scoping Plan Update. Relevant materials will be available on CARB’s AB 32 Climate Change Scoping Plan Meetings and Workshops webpage prior to the workshops.

In addition to the 2022 Scoping Plan Update, this workshop will also inform CARB’s efforts to develop the 2022 State SIP Strategy. Staff are seeking to discuss and receive input on a potential measure that would establish a zero-carbon emission limitation for space and water heating equipment. This measure would provide needed emission reductions in oxides of nitrogen to meet federal ambient air quality standards. The federal Clean Air Act requires areas that exceed the health-based national ambient air quality standards to develop state implementation plans (SIPs) that demonstrate how they will attain the standards by specified dates. In 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency strengthened the 8-hour ozone standard to 70 parts per billion (ppb). Nineteen areas in California were designated nonattainment in 2018. CARB will be considering regional SIPs for this standard in 2022, as well as commitments within its own State SIP Strategy. The 2022 State SIP Strategy will include measures and commitments to reduce emissions from State-regulated sources to support attainment of the 70 ppb 8-hour ozone standard in all nonattainment areas across California.

Furthermore, this workshop will also inform CARB’s efforts to develop recommendations related to building decarbonization for future updates to the CALGreen Building Standards Code. The purpose of CALGreen is to improve public health, safety, and general welfare through enhanced design and construction of buildings using concepts which reduce negative impacts and promote those principles which have a positive environmental impact and encourage sustainable construction practices.

Tribal Participation

In recognition of the important government-to-government relationship California has with Tribes, CARB looks forward to participation of California Native American Tribes in this workshop. CARB also looks forward to directly engaging with Tribes, including through any request for consultation. CARB’s Tribal Relations webpage provides additional information regarding CARB’s work with Tribes as well as contact information for CARB’s Tribal Liaison.

Background

In 2006, the Legislature passed the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 [Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32)], which created a comprehensive, multi-year program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in California. AB 32 required CARB to develop a Scoping Plan that describes the approach California will take to reduce GHGs to achieve the goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The Scoping Plan was first approved by the Board in 2008 and must be updated at least every five years. Since 2008, there have been two updates to the Scoping Plan. Each of the Scoping Plans have included a suite of policies centered around regulations, incentives, and carbon pricing to help the State achieve its GHG targets, in large part leveraging existing programs whose primary goal is to reduce harmful air pollution.