Climate Change

Climate Change

Support efforts throughout Yolo County to adapt to climate change and to reduce (mitigate) greenhouse gas emissions in various sectors.
Position History: 

Adopted 2011

Objectives:
  1. Agriculture
    1. Apply fertilizer according to soil and tissue tests 
      1. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer applications rates
      2. Follow a nutrient management plan.
    2. Reduce fossil fuel consumption in field equipment.
    3. Reduce energy use in agricultural irrigation pumping.
      1. Use high efficiency pumps and/or solar powered pumps.
      2. Use water more efficiently.
    4. Use integrated pest management (I.P.M.) to reduce pesticide applications.
    5. Sequester (or store) carbon in agricultural landscapes.
      1. Grow high residue producing crops.
      2. Grow cover crops and install buffers to prevent runoff from going directly into lakes and streams.
    6. Supporting Measures
      1. Conservation tillage (use minimum tillage).
      2. Increase consumption of local agriculture products.
      3. Conserve agricultural lands 
        1. Provide adequate funding to restore the Williamson Act 
        2. Maintain conservation easements between cities.
      4. Use local data and local input prior to the adoption of any regulations.
      5. Add voluntary measures and incentives to ensure that these directives will happen.
  2. Forestry / Urban Forests
    1. Encourage flexible approaches for forest management
    2. Replant areas destroyed by fire with plants appropriate for a changed climate
    3. Develop options to help ecosystems adapt to new conditions
    4. Encourage urban forests within communities
      1. Monitor the city’s role in maintaining and improving urban forests within its jurisdiction
    5. Increase tree planting on lands not currently in the forest
      1. Restore riparian forests and establish hedgerows
    6. Encourage the planting of trees to modulate heating and cooling costs
    7. Recycle wood products
    8. Use native species where appropriate 
    9. Support the Urban Forest Protocol, adopted by California Air Resources Board and the California Climate Action Registry
  3. Water
    1. Encourage conservation and storage of water
      1. This should include floodwater and reclaimed water
      2. Have a comprehensive water conservation strategy
      3. Encourage conservation in each household/ establishment by having residents/owners examine their carbon footprint and to then take appropriate action to decrease it
        1. Encourage efficient irrigation systems in both households and commercial establishments.
        2. Correct leaks in systems
      4. Encourage RainWater Capture and Storage 
        1. Control Runoff
        2. Manage stormwater on site
    2. Encourage Creation of Water Efficient Landscapes
      1. Use drought tolerant plants when possible
      2. Use reclaimed water when possible
      3. Place plants according to water needs
    3. Examine the amount of water it takes to produce all products and consider this in production choices. This could include
      1. The water necessary for energy production
      2. The energy necessary to deliver and process water
      3. The water necessary for food production
    4. Encourage local farmers and university researchers to interact in ways that are compatible with and encourage local innovation in agricultural practices while addressing climate change
  4. Human Health
    1. Support governmental measures that help the public safety network be prepared for human health problems that arise from climate change The areas include the following:
      1. Extreme heat
      2. Increase in poor air quality both from rise in ozone and/or wildfires
      3. Droughts and floods
      4. New diseases from warmer climates
    2. Encourage education of the public in human health risks associated with climate change. The areas include the danger/ effects of the following:
      1. Extreme heat
      2. Increase in poor air quality both from rise in ozone and/or wildfires
      3. Droughts and floods
      4. New diseases from warmer climates
    3. Support general mitigation efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions and therefore slow the onset of the human health effects of climate change. 
  5. General Mitigation Measures
    1. Energy
      1. Reduce burning of fossil fuels 
      2. Increase the use of low carbon, renewable fuels such as solar and bio based fuels
    2. Housing/Buildings
      1. Retrofit existing buildings for lower energy usage. This could include 
        1. More efficient appliances, lighting, windows, etc.
        2. Installation of renewable energy sources such as PV solar, solar hot water, and others
        3. Planting trees to limit heating and cooling needs
      2. Encourage increasing energy efficiency in new construction with the long term aim of zero carbon footprint ( no net CO2eq emissions)
    3. Transportation 
        1. Increase Vehicle Efficiency (mpg) – applying it to to all forms of transportation
        2. Lower the carbon intensity of fuel
        3. Encourage public transportation and land use planning measures that reduce vehicle miles traveled
  6. Policy – Local, State, National and International
    1. The LWV Woodland encourages local, regional, state, national and international municipalities to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change
      1. Encourage the adoption of climate action plans
Issues: 
Natural Resources
Climate Change
Environment
League to which this content belongs: 
Woodland