Event: California’s Regulation of Greenhouse Gases: Cap & Trade v. Command & Control – 2/24/09

This looks like it should be a really interesting event… here is the information from the event’s web page:

Presented by: Los Angeles County Bar Association; Environmental Law Section

Program Information:
The California Air Resources Board currently is drafting regulations to implement California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32). As part of these efforts, CARB currently is evaluating the benefits and downsides of two options to control GHG emissions, which include a “cap-and-trade” system and a more traditional “command and control” system. The panelist for this program are experts in this area and will discuss the positive and negative aspects of both emission control programs, including how the programs will impact California’s economy while also achieving the goals of AB 32.

Speakers:
Timothy R. Grabiel, Natural Resources Defense Council 
K Ryan Hiete, Musick Peeler & Garrett LLP 
Robert Wyman, Latham & Watkins LLP 

Location:
LACBA Conference Center, 281 S. Figueroa Street , Los Angeles

Click here to register or for more information.

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Local Upcoming Events

Here is a pretty long list of events I put together. I hope it’s helpful for everyone! 

The 23^rd Annual Land Use Law and Planning Conference, in Downtown, January 23^rd.

Now in its twenty-third year, the UCLA Extension conference offers a big-picture view of land use law and planning practice, with knowledgeable speakers providing succinct and provocative updates on core state and federal case law and legislation as well as practice pointers on basic land use law and planning issues. The conference is essential for attorneys, planners, environmentalists, and developers who need to know how land use law and planning is changing and affecting their interests. This is an all day conference.

Click here for more information or to register

 

 VerdeXchange Green Marketmakers Conference, in Downtown, January 26^th.

On January 26, 2009, engage with leading technology, energy, and regulatory “green marketmakers” who are proactively responding to California’s market-defining initiatives for addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As outlined in Assembly Bill 32 (signed into law 2006), California’s 2005 Executive Order and a 2004 CARB regulation to reduce passenger car GHG emissions, California’s efforts aim to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and below 1990 levels by 2050 – reductions of 25 percent and 80 percent respectively. These initiatives will undoubtedly shape the national and international markets.

Click here for more information or to register

 

 UCLA Workshop on SB375 – California’s New Anti-Sprawl Law, @ UCLA, January 27^th.

The most important and far-reaching land use legislation since the Coastal Act, SB 375 could transform development and the built environment in California. Now that the bill has been signed by the Governor, what’s next? What does SB 375 mean for local governments, developers, community groups, and commuters? Bill sponsor Tom Adams of the California League of Conservation Voters will join other stakeholders and panelists to address these issues. This conference is sponsored by the Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment, the Evan Frankel Environmental Law and Policy Program, and the Richard S. Ziman Center for Real Estate at UCLA.

Click here for more information or to register

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UCLA Extensions Public Policy Programs

UCLA Extensions is hosting some great Public Policy seminars over the next few months. I’m defenitly going to try and make a one of two of them (note, they aren’t free, but they do have some scholarships for recent graduates). Click here for more information or to register. Here are the seminars: 

Successful CEQA Compliance: A Step-by-Step Approach – Feb 5 & 6:

Speakers:  Ron Bass, AICP, JD, Regulatory Compliance Specialist with ICF Jones & Stokes, a west coast consulting firm specializing in environmental planning and natural resources management.  Margaret Moore Sohagi, JD, President, The Sohagi Law Group, PLC, a Los Angeles-based law firm representing public agencies.

Planning Commissioners Traning – Feb 12:

Speakers: Kevin G. Ennis, Shareholder, Richards, Watson & Gershon, Los Angeles California. Rick Cole, City Manager of Ventura, Ventura California. Robert Garcia, Executive Director, The City Project. Acquanetta Warren, Deputy Public Works Director, Public Works Department, City of Upland

Water Law & Policy – Feb 20:

Speakers: Scott S. Slater, Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Los Angeles, California, author California Water Law and Policy. Russell McGlothlin, Associate, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Los Angeles, California, co-author of the California Groundwater Management Handbook.

Mello-Roos and Special Financing: 2009 Update on Issues and Practices – Feb 27: 

Speakers: Check web site for speakers

CEQA and Climate Change – Mar 5: 

Speakers: Ron Bass, JD, AICP, Senior Regulatory Specialist, ICF Jones & Stokes, a west coast consulting firm specializing in environmental planning and natural resources management. Margaret Moore Sohagi, JD, President of The Sohagi Law Group, PLC, a Los Angeles-based law firm representing public agencies. 

The Subdivision Map Act: An Introduction and 2009 Update – Mar 6: 

Speakers: M. Thomas Jacobson, AICP, JD, Professor of Environmental Studies and Planning, Director of the Institute for Community Planning Assistance at Sonoma State University. Larry Wiener, JD, Partner, Richards, Watson & Gershon, Los Angeles, specializing in land use law, infrastructure financing, and CEQA.

Designing & Implementing Effective Zoning Ordinances – Mar 26: 

Speakers: Bruce Jacobson Principal, Jacobson & Wack, a consulting firm specializing in comprehensive zoning ordinance preparation.  Ron Pflugrath has over 35 years of varied urban planning experience, including positions with California cities and consulting firms.

Also interesting: A new lecture series being presented by UCLA Extensions and RAND Corp, called “More than a Soundbite: stimuLAte” – This event is on Mar 9, and is much less expensive than the other events (only $35). The topic of the first of the four programs in the series is “Challenges of the Gulf Region” focusing on Iran and Iraq.

Click here for more information or to register.

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2008 Environmental Youth Conference!

Check out the 2008 Environmental Youth Conference! A conference for the youth by the youth, the 2008 Environmental Youth Conference will be held this Saturday, December 13 from 8am-3pm at the Los Angeles Convention Center-South Hall. Learn about how you can do your part to slow climate change and interact with celebrity environmentalists as conference panelists discuss projects related to urban forestry, water, and eco-consumption. This fun, educational event is FREE for all attendees ages 12-21!

Click on the following link for more information & to print your event flyer for FREE parking in the South Hall Garage.

http://www.milliontreesla.org/mtyouth.htm

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Event Opportunity: A Twilight Walk in the Park With Mark

As the election draws closer, the Eco|angeleno is going to have to get a little more Eco|politico.  I just recieved this invitation, everyone interested should join:

State Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas (D-Culver City), who is running for County Supervisor in the  Nov. 4 election,  will be leading a hike with the Sierra Club this evening, as part of the Sierra Club’s on-going series of family hikes in Kenneth Hahn State Park. 

The 75-minute, one-mile  hike  will  start  at 6:30 at the Japanese  Garden of the park, 4100 S. LaCienega Blvd. Refreshments will be provided. Participants are invited to bring flashlights since it  will  be  dark  shortly.

“Our goal,” said Fernando Ramirez of the Sierra Club, “is to provide an opportunity for residents to meet and interact with their elected representatives in an informal setting that promotes both the enjoyment of the natural environment and the expansion of Hahn State Recreation Area in the Baldwin Hills.” 

Information is available at 310.245.2763 or by emailing bill.vanderberg@ca.rr.

For more information about Mark Ridley Thomas, see his web site at http://www.ridley-thomas.com/  [Thank you: http://latinos4mrt.blogspot.com/ for notifying us of the event]

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Event Opportunity: CLCV – The Impact of the November Election on Environmental Policy

The California League of Conservation voters will be holding a great panel discussion on November 6th focused on the “Impact of the November Election on Environmental Policy.” I went to this event last year, and while the topic was different, the formate was the same, and it was really a super informative event.

This years speakers include: * John Chiang – California State Controller * Shiela Kuehl  – California State Senator * Ted Lieu – California State Assemblymember * David Allgood – League of Conservation Voters * Andy Lipkis – Treepeople * Jonathan Parfrey – Green LA * MC’d by Frank Mottek of KNX Newsradio.

When: November 6th
Where: Milken Institute in Santa Monica

For more information, or to RSVP click here: LINK

See you there!

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Event: Green Speed Dating!

In our effort to be a continual resource to the environmental community here in LA, attached and un-attached, here is an event I just got word of: Green Speed Dating on Oct 26th in Culver City.  It looks like it should be a lot of fun! Check out the flyer for more info: Green Speed Dating Info.; or check out http://www.greenspeeddating.com. Event proceeds go towards providing solar installations in Nicaragua.

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Event Alert: Coastal Cleanup Day!

FYI: “California Coastal Cleanup Day is the premier volunteer event focused on the marine environment in the country. In 2007, more than 60,000 volunteers worked together to collect more than 900,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways. California Coastal Cleanup Day has been hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as “the largest garbage collection” (1993). Since the program started in 1985, over 800,000 Californians have removed more than 12 million pounds of debris from our state’s shorelines and coast. When combined with the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by The Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Cleanup Day becomes part of one of the largest volunteer events of the year.

For more info: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html
In Los Angeles, check out Heal the Bay for more volunteering opportunities: http://www.healthebay.org/volunteer/ccd/

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Conference Alert: Opporunity Green, Nov 8-9 @ UCLA

Hey Everyone, I just wanted to let everyone know about this great conference coming up in November. Here is the conference web site: http://www.opportunitygreen.com/

This is how they describe their own conference:
“Opportunity Green is a convergence of the prime movers & shakers and the up & coming innovators driving today’s new green economy. Rub elbows with 500 of the best and brightest thought leaders: entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors and designers, all focused on building socially responsible and sustainable enterprises.”

Since I attended last year, let me throw in my two cents about this event. Essentially, it’s a green business conference focused heavily on LOHAS Consumer goods (LOHAS = Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability), with an additional emphasis on discussing catalysts for change and emerging social trends. In many respects, It’s a conference tailored for young professionals and start-up businesses, modeled after the organizers who are just that, young professionals who started up this conference.

The conference is a breadth of fresh air compared to some other conferences I’ve attended which are tailored more towards selling sponsorships, and acting as platforms for politicians to spout off about Bush’s terrible environmental record, than actually providing fresh content and interesting speakers. If you are interested in green business issues, I recommend you attend.

Hopefully I’ll see you there!

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Conference Alert: Green West, LA Convention Center, May 20-22

This one came out of left field, but here it is: http://www.greenwestexpo.com/

It looks like another cookie cutter green business conference, with lots of the same players, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting. Emerald City describes it: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/emeraldcity/2008/05/green-west-a-su.html

I won’t be going because I heard about it so last minute, if anyone goes and has some feedback about it please leave comments on it (so I know if I should go next year).

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