AB 32: What You Need to Know and Why July 17th

BREATHE California of Los Angeles County (BREATHE LA) Pollution & Solutions Salon Series continued with an expert panel discussing California's Climate Change legislation (AB32) on July 17, 2008 at the Los Angeles Press Club.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge served as welcome speaker. Introduced by long time BREATHE LA Board Member Robert Berliner, the always-upbeat LaBonge breezed in to share air quality anecdotes and local history with the audience before turning the stage over to speakers Richard Varenchik and Mary Ellen Hogan.

Mr. Varenchik, (deputy communications director Office of Climate Change, California Air Resources Board) an air pollution specialist and expert in emissions trading, regularly travels Southern California speaking at information sessions on AB32. His presentation touched-on the short- and long-term goals for meeting required reductions in California greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 and reductions of 35% by 2020.

Speaking from a global perspective, Ms. Hogan (Climate Change Practice, Environmental Law, Holme, Roberts & Owen) has lent her expertise in climate change in the United States and around the world. Ms. Hogan (along with partner Alan Gilbert), has worked on matters involving EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme, global climate regulations, green house gas emissions, and technologies for GHG mitigation and sequestration. With high praise for Governor Schwarzenegger's profoundly forward looking commitment to climate change issues, Hogan called these, "exciting times for the environment." Her humor, knowledge and personal passion tamed the complexities facing California in the implementation stage of AB32 including the recently released Scoping Plan. Hogan plans to take part in the follow up AB32 Salon in September 2008.

Following presentations by Hogan and Varenchik, moderator Brooke Binowski (KPCC 89.3 FM) lead a discussion that elicited insightful questions from audience members.

"We have to do everything we can to address the problem of global warming at every level of government. We need initiatives that attack the problem and are feasible in the real world. We also need to explain our new laws to the people and that's why this forum is so important."

-Tom LaBonge, Los Angeles City Council

The Pollution & Solutions Salon Series is a new and engaging discussion of clean air, the environment and healthy living. Six salons are scheduled throughout 2008, each one exploring a different issue or aspect of the environment and how it affects residents, consumers, businesses and other stakeholders.

Each salon is free, open to the public and a diversity of opinion, leadership, work experience and background is welcomed.

A report of findings from the series will be released in December 2008.

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