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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD STANDING COMMITTEES - 10262020 - Sustainability Cte Min PktCONTRA COSTA COUNTY SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION An Advisory Body to the Board of Supervisors October 26, 2020, 5:00 P.M. To slow the spread of COVID-19, the Health Officer’s Shelter Order of April 29, 2020, prevents public gatherings (Health Officer Order). In lieu of a public gathering, the Sustainability Commission will be meeting via remote access per Governor’s Executive Order N29-20. Howdy Goudey, Chair, At-Large, Community Group Wes Sullens, Vice-Chair, Member, District 4 Nick Despota, Member, District 1 Shoshana Wechsler, Alternate, District 1 Victoria Smith, Member, District 2 Ryan Buckley, Alternate, District 2 John Sierra, Member, District 3 Mike Moore, Alternate, District 3 Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4 Charles Davidson, Member, District 5 Reneé Fernandez-Lipp, Alternate, District 5 Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group Russell Driver, At-Large, Business Nicholas Snyder, At-Large, Business Vacant, At-Large, Environmental Justice Sarah Foster, At-Large, Environmental Justice Kim Hazard, At-Large, Education Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the Committee JOIN VIA WEB OR TELEPHONE: Audio will be played over your device’s speakers. If you will not have access to a computer or mobile device and require telephone access, you may dial-in. When: Oct 26, 2020 05:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: Sustainability Commission October 26, 2020 Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/91711767786 Meeting ID: 917 1176 7786 Or Telephone, Dial: USA 214 765 0478 US Toll USA 888 278 0254 US Toll-free Conference code: 198675 1. Call to Order and Introductions 2.Public Comment 3.APPROVE Record of Action for August 24, 2020 meeting. 4.RECEIVE Report from the Transportation Planning Section 5.RECEIVE UPDATE on and DISCUSS Implementation of Climate Emergency Resolution 6.RECEIVE UPDATE on Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge 7.RECEIVE Reports from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed. 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 1 of 71 8.RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Coordinator. 9. RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Commission Chair and IDENTIFY TOPICS for next report to Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability. 10.The next meeting is currently scheduled for December 14, 2020. 11. Adjourn The Sustainability Commission will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend Commission meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting. Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed by the County to a majority of members of the Commission less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are available for public inspection at 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA during normal business hours. Staff reports related to items on the agenda are also accessible on line at www.co.contra-costa.ca.us. Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least one full work day prior to the published meeting time. For Additional Information Contact: Jody London, Commission Staff · jody.london@dcd.cccounty.us · Phone (925) 674-7871 · Fax (925) 674-7250 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 2 of 71 Glossary of Acronyms, Abbreviations, and other Terms (in alphabetical order): Contra Costa County has a policy of making limited use of acronyms, abbreviations, and industry-specific language in meetings of its Board of Supervisors and Committees. Following is a list of commonly used abbreviations that may appear in presentations and written materials at meetings of the Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee: AB Assembly Bill ABAG Association of Bay Area Governments ACA Assembly Constitutional Amendment ADA Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 BAAQMD Bay Area Air Quality Management District BART Bay Area Rapid Transit District BAYREN Bay Area Regional Energy Network BGO Better Government Ordinance (Contra Costa County) BOS Board of Supervisors CALTRANS California Department of Transportation AO County Administrative Officer or Office CAP Climate Action Plan CARB California Air Resources Board CCA Community Choice CCE Community Choice Energy Aggregation CCWD Contra Costa Water District CEQA California Environmental Quality Act CSA County Service Area CSAC California State Association of Counties DCC Delta Counties Coalition DCD Contra Costa County Dept. of Conservation & Development DPC Delta Protection Commission DSC Delta Stewardship Council DWR California Department of Water Resources EBEW East Bay Energy Watch EBMUD East Bay Municipal Utility District EIR Environmental Impact Report (a state requirement) EIS Environmental Impact Statement (a federal requirement) FTE Full Time Equivalent FY Fiscal Year GHG Greenhouse Gas GGRF Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funds GIS Geographic Information System HSD Contra Costa County Health Services Department IPM Integrated Pest Management JPA/JEPA Joint (Exercise of) Powers Authority or Agreement LAMORINDA Area of Lafayette-Moraga-Orinda MAC Municipal Advisory Council MBE Minority Business Enterprise MOA Memorandum of Agreement MOE Maintenance of Effort MOU Memorandum of Understanding MTC Metropolitan Transportation Commission NACo National Association of Counties NEPA National Environmental Protection Act PDA Priority Development Area PV Photovoltaic PWD Contra Costa County Public Works Department RDA Redevelopment Agency or Area RFI Request For Information RFP Request For Proposals RFQ Request For Qualifications SB Senate Bill SGC Strategic Growth Council SR2S Safe Routes to Schools TWIC Transportation, Water, and Infrastructure Committee U.S. EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency WBE Women-Owned Business Enterprise 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 3 of 71 Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission 3. Meeting Date: 10/26/2020 Subject: APPROVE Record of Action for August 24, 2020, Sustainability Commission Meeting Department: Conservation & Development Presenter: Jody London, DCD Contact: Jody London, (925) 674-7871 Referral History: County Ordinance (Better Government Ordinance 95-6, Article 25-205, [d]) requires that each County Body keep a record of its meetings. Though the record need not be verbatim, it must accurately reflect the agenda and the decisions made in the meeting. Referral Update: Any handouts or printed copies of testimony distributed at the meeting will be attached to this meeting record. Links to the agenda and minutes will be available at the Committee web page, to be announced. Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): Staff recommends approval of the attached Record of Action for the August 24, 2020, Sustainability Commission Meeting with any necessary corrections. Fiscal Impact (if any): N/A ATTACHMENT(S) August 24, 2020 Draft Record of Action 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 4 of 71 D R A F T Record of Action CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION An Advisory Body to the Board of Supervisors August 24, 2020, 5:00 P.M. This meeting occurred via remote access per Governor’s Executive Order N-20- 20. Howdy Goudey, Chair, At-Large, Community Group Nick Despota, Vice-Chair, Member, District 1 Shoshana Wechsler, Alternate, District 1 Victoria Smith, Member, District 2 Ryan Buckley, Alternate, District 2 John Sierra, Member, District 3 Mike Moore, Alternate, District 3 Wes Sullens, Member, District 4 Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4 Charles Davidson, Member, District 5 Reneé Fernandez-Lipp, Alternate, District 5 Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group Russell Driver, At-Large, Business Vacant, At-Large, Business Vacant, At-Large, Environmental Justice Sarah Foster, At-Large, Environmental Justice Kim Hazard, At-Large, Education Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the Committee Present: Howdy Goudey, Chair, At-Large, Community Group Wes Sullens, Vice Chair, Member, District 4 Nick Despota, Member, District 1 Shoshana Wechsler, Alternate, District 1 Victoria Smith, Member, District 2 Ryan Buckley, Alternate, District 2 John Sierra, Member, District 3 Mike Moore, Alternate, District 3 Charles Davidson, Member, District 5 Harry Thurston, At-Large, Community Group Sarah Foster, At-Large, Environmental Justice Russell Driver, At-Large, Business Kim Hazard, At-Large, Education Absent: Travis Curran, Alternate, District 4 Reneé Fernandez-Lipp, Alternate, District 5 Staff Present: Demian Hardman, Senior Energy Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, Dept. of Conservation and Development Dom Pruett, Field Representation, Office of Supervisor Andersen Wade Finlanson, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator Will Nelson, Advance Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development Daniel Barrios, Advance Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development Jamar Stamps, Senior Transportation Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development Attendees: Alitzel Blanco, Carol Weed, Ciara DeGuzman, Debi Winther, Jan Callaghan, Janet Pygeorge, Jesus Contreras, Marti Roach, Alcides Fuentes, Jan Warren, Matt Holmes, Devin Murphy, Benisa Berry, Joanna Jansen. 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 5 of 71 12.Call to Order and Introductions 13.Public Comment on items not on the agenda Alitzel Blanco introduced Bay Point RAICES, a community organization committed to environmental justice. 14.APPROVE Record of Action for June 22, 2020 meeting. The Record of Action was approved unanimously, except for John Sierra, who abstained. Motion: Smith Second: Foster 15.DISCUSS and PROVIDE INPUT to Draft Environmental Justice Policies for General Plan Will Nelson, who is the leading the County’s update to the General Plan, introduced the draft environmental justice policies. SB 1000 (2016) requires General Plans to include environmental justice policies. Nelson noted that not many cities or counties have had an opportunity to date to implement SB 1000. He said that as staff and consultants developed this first draft of the environmental justice policies they tried to think big, get out of the comfort zone. Joanna Jansen provided an overview of the draft environmental justice policies (see attached presentation). Jansen noted that staff is open to an alternative to the term “disadvantaged communities,” which is the language used in SB 1000. Jansen explained that staff has held General Plan meetings in each of the communities in the unincorporated County (cities develop their own general plans). Draft community profiles are posted online at www.EnvisionContraCosta2040.org. Each draft profile includes actions specific to that community. Jansen reviewed the criteria that comprise a good policy. She described the process for further developing these policies, which will include more community meetings, as well as approval by the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. The Commission received public comment before discussing the draft policies. Marti Roach – The safety element should reduce the impacts of climate change. It is not clear how the vulnerability assessment ties in to these draft policies. Residents of disadvantaged communities face disproportionate impacts from climate change. Janet Pygeorge – Agrees with the prior speaker. Impressed with the work so far. Retain focus on health issues. Jan Callaghan – Agrees with prior speakers. It’s important to protect air, Bay, health. She hopes it doesn’t take 20 years for this to happen. The Commission then discussed the draft environmental justice policies. The Commission prioritized those policies about which members had the most input. In general, Commission members were impressed with the draft policies. They discussed opportunities to strengthen policies on safe, multi- modal transportation networks; job training; air quality in the context of equity and health; social and economic advantages; and safety. 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 6 of 71 After this discussion the Commission received additional public comments. Jan Callaghan stated that Contra Costa County should not be the refining area for the world. She expressed frustration that residents cannot operate a backyard barbeque, but the refinery can continue to operate. Janet Pygeorge stated that the County should get rid of the Pacific Refinery. Dulce Galicia asked if these policies are in the permitting process and noted there are probably other people who would like to review them. Alitzel Blanco suggested there be more discussion of how communities of color are impacted by current and future policies. There are opportunities to elevate their voices. 16.RECEIVE Reports from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed. Mike Moore noted a report on decommissioning refineries released in July by Communities for a Better Environment. Moore suggested this report provides a plan for Contra Costa County to follow as it considers decommissioning refineries over the long run. Kim Hazard reported in her role as the representative from the Sustainability Commission to the County’s Integrated Pest Management Advisory Board. Hazard said the IPM Advisory Board is working on weed management projects at the West County Detention Facility. 17. RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Coordinator. Jody London referred people to the written report included with the agenda. London noted that there are now two vacancies on the Sustainability Commission – At-Large, Environmental Justice, and At-Large, Business – created by the resignations of Doria Robinson and Nicholas Snyder. London said the County will be advertising to fill those vacancies. 18.RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Commission Chair and IDENTIFY TOPICS for next report to Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability. Howdy Goudey congratulated Shoshana Wechsler and Urban Tilth (Executive Director) Doria Robinson for receiving Sustainability Leadership Awards from Sustainable Contra Costa at the organization’s upcoming annual gala. Goudey thanked Doria Robinson and Nick Snyder for their service on the Sustainability Commission since its inception in 2017. He also thanked everyone for participating in the meeting. 19.The next meeting is currently scheduled for October 26, 2020. 20. Adjourn 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 7 of 71 Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission 4. Meeting Date: 10/26/2020 Subject: RECEIVE Report from the Transportation Planning Section Department: Conservation and Development Presenter: John Cunningham, Department of Conservation and Development Contact: John Cunningham, Department of Conservation and Development, 925-674-7833 Referral History: This is the first time this presentation has been provided to the Commission. Referral Update: Staff to the Sustainability Commission requested that the Transportation Planning Division provide a report describing segments of the transportation system that could be improved to fulfill sustainability goals. These goals include implementation of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and to improve “equity and fairness across the diverse communities of Contra Costa County” while pursuing CAP implementation. Consistent with the request from staff and Sustainability Commission responsibilities the attached report focuses on transportation improvements for 1) older persons/persons with disabilities, and 2)bicycle transportation. Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): RECEIVE the report and DISCUSS as appropriate. Fiscal Impact (if any): None. Staff activities described in the report are covered under existing budgets and work programs. ATTACHMENT(S) Closing Performance Gaps in Contra Costa’s Transportation System…while increasing GHG reductions, equity, and other co-benefits 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 8 of 71 October2020 Closing Performance Gaps in Contra Costa’s Transportation System… …while increasing GHG reductions, equity, and other co -benefits 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 9 of 71 •Distant Past: Bicycle Race Mechanic Working in Europe •More Recent Past: Operations Manager for Santa Clara County Paratransit (Accessible Transit) Agency •Currently: “Jack -of-All-Trades” Transportation Planner •Accessible Transit •Bicycle Transportation 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 10 of 71 Accessible Transit •Americans with Disabilities Act Public Paratransit •Similar services include dial-a-ride, city-based senior programs, etc. •Related Programs: Travel training, mobility management, etc. 310-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 11 of 71 Closing Performance Gaps •Roadway Network: Currently Focusing on Operational Refinements •Transit Network: Two Bills in the Legislature to Restructure Transit Districts •Bay Area Seamless Transit Act (AB 2057) •FASTER Bay Area (SB 278) •Accessible Transit: aka paratransit, dial-a-ride, etc. •Bicycle Transportation: utility trips, commute, shopping, school, etc. 410-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 12 of 71 Accessible Transit •Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential •Cost-Effectiveness Gains •Equity •The entire population served by accessible transit is “disadvantaged” by at least one metric but typically it is 2 -3 metrics, age, income, race, etc. •The need to achieve equity with progress seen in other modes 510-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 13 of 71 Accessible Transit •Contra Costa Accessible Transportation Strategic Plan https://www.atspcontracosta.com/ •Regional: Metropolitan Transportation Commission Coordinated Plan Update Drennen Shelton dshelton@bayareametro.gov (415) 778-5309 •State: Master Plan on Aging https://www.engageca.org/ 610-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 14 of 71 Bicycle Transportation •Obvious: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Potential •Obvious: Health co-benefits 7 https://www.behance.net/ianstein 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 15 of 71 Bicycle Transportation •Contra Costa County Bicycling RateUnderperforms Relative to Other Bay AreaCounties Home -Based Trip Data: MTC: Regional Bicycle Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area 2009 Update March 2009 * Insufficient sample size; reported for information purposes only. ** These values show percent of this trip purpose regionwide that is by bicycle. Percentages do not add up to 100% due to rounding Source: Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Bay Area Travel Survey 810-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 16 of 71 Bicycle Transportation Our Potential •Incredible Network of Separated Trails •Delta DeAnza •Lafayette-Moraga •Ohlone Greenway •Iron Horse •Contra Costa Canal •12 BART Stations (2 nd Only to Alameda County) •Feedback from Community Meetings •Ebikes –Hills and Fitness No Longer an Issue 910-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 17 of 71 Bicycle Transportation Equity Misperceptions Data from People for Bikes https://peopleforbikes.org/ 1010-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 18 of 71 Bicycle Transportation Implementation Of: 1.Protected Bike Lanes: Most effective at getting people to switch to bikes. https://peopleforbikes.org/ 2.Contra Costa Transportation Authority Bicycle –Pedestrian Plan: A connected; countywide network is critical for success. https://ccta.net/2018/10/18/countywide-bicycle-and-pedestrian-plan/ 1110-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 19 of 71 THANK YOU! John Cunningham Principal Planner 925-674 -7833 john.cunningham@dcd.cccounty.us 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 20 of 71 Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission 5. Meeting Date: 10/26/2020 Subject: RECEIVE UPDATE on and DISCUSS Implementation of Climate Emergency Resolution Department: Conservation and Development Presenter: Jody London, Department of Conservation and Development Contact: Jody London, Department of Conservation and Development Referral History: On September 22, 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution. The Sustainability Commission recommended this to the Board last year, and after much work by the Sustainability Commission and the Sustainability Committee, in consultation with community members, the Resolution was adopted unanimously. Referral Update: The Board of Supervisors took several action with the resolution. Below we list the actions and progress by staff to implement each. These include: Action Implementation Status Declare a climate emergency Completed. Support the State’s recent climate goals and taking action to achieve them Ongoing. Establish an interdepartmental task force of all Department heads, or their senior deputies, that will focus on urgently implementing the County’s Climate Action and identifying additional actions, policies, and programs the County can undertake to reduce and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. The task force will report to the Board through the Sustainability Commission and the Sustainability Committee on a semi-annual basis starting in March 2021 Staff in the Department of Conservation and Development are working with other departments regarding goals, process, and timeline for convening this task force and being ready for the first report in March. Seek input from the community (with a special focus on highly impacted Environmental Justice communities), workers (especially impacted workers), and business/industry to help the County anticipate and plan for an economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels, helps plan for a “Just Transition” away from a fossil- Staff have begun researching how other jurisdictions have addressed this same or similar issues. Please see attached summary. 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 21 of 71 fuel dependent economy, and considers how the County’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic can incorporate the County’s climate goals Develop policies to require all new construction to be fully electric through the adoption of new building codes that exceed current State codes Staff has been working on this for several months. Staff anticipates bringing a draft policy to the Sustainability Commission in December. Prioritize implementation of the Climate Action Plan as soon as possible and considering equity and social justice issues in the implementation of the Plan Ongoing. Include health, socio-economic, and racial equity considerations in policymaking and climate solutions at all levels and across all sectors This work is beginning with the development of the environmental justice policies for the General Plan. Include land use policies and actions that will facilitate greater availability of fresh food to County residents by creating more opportunities for community gardens, urban gardens, farmers markets, and related policies and programs. Staff in late August submitted a proposal to the California Department of Conservation for a planning grant to develop a carbon sequestration feasibility study for Contra Costa County. The County is partnering with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District and the University of California Cooperative Extension to develop the feasibility study (if the grant is awarded). A primary focus for the feasibility study will be how to increase community gardens. Call for all Contra Costa cities and agencies, as well as regional agencies, to also approve a Climate Emergency Declaration Staff is in the process of sending the Climate Emergency Resolution to other jurisdictions. Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): RECEIVE UPDATE on and DISCUSS Implementation of Climate Emergency Resolution Fiscal Impact (if any): N/A. ATTACHMENT(S) Just Transition Key Recommendations and Common Themes Just Transition Case Studies 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 22 of 71 Just Transition Key Recommendations and Common Themes Prepared by Nicole Shimizu, Climate Corps Fellow Contra Costa County, Department of Conservation and Development County staff have begun researching Just Transition processes in other places. This document is an initial overview, intended to inform the planning and implementation for a Just Transition process in Contra Costa County. Communication Continuous social dialogue between major stakeholders (local government, regional government, community groups, trade unions, etc.) throughout the policymaking and implementation process ensures effective collaboration and results in policies addressing community needs. Case Study Example: Colorado’s Just Transition Advisory Committee consulted coal transition communities about their needs. They found that some communities already had a plan in mind and just needed support to fulfill their needs. This open communication between stakeholders allows for effective allocation of resources and effort to engage and support communities. Communication about what changes will be made and how it will benefit the majority is important to build trust between involved stakeholders. Case Study Example: In Alberta, Canada, both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change vocalized support for coal phase-out which encouraged buy-in from labour leadership and key industry representatives. Proactive Planning Many of the case studies involved the formation of a committee/commission focused on organizing, planning, and implementing elements of a just transition. Well-developed plans that include clear timelines regarding retraining of people and program roll-out are effective when planning out next steps and ensuring a sustainable, proactive transition instead of an unsustainable, reactive effort. Case Study Example: Los Angeles County’s OurCounty Plan spent 2 years doing extensive community outreach through workshops and expos to get public input and used it to create a clear, actionable implementation timeline. There are a series of common recommendations that multiple just transitions utilize in their region’s own transition. These include job retraining programs and grants, career consultancy and employment services, plans for individual work site transitions, transition centers based in affected communities, and early retirement programs. A designated budget set aside is necessary to fund efforts and sustain the transition. Case Study Example: Canada set up a Just Transition Fund to support economic diversification, grants for affected employees, and transition centers to support transitioning affected communities. 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 23 of 71 Just transitions take time. Proactive rather than reactive measures ensure that those being affected are not left behind. Proactive measures also allow for a more gradual transition into a fossil fuel-free economy. Case Study Example: Diablo Canyon Power Plant had a proactive transition plan that provided a future for its workers and affected communities that was implemented over a span of 8 years. Skill audits take stock of people’s skills and how they can be adapted or retrained to fill open holes in the market. Skill audits ensure that workers employed by the fossil fuel industry have the opportunity to develop skills that will match up with the needs of the market. Case Study Example: The EU Just Transition Study found it was beneficial to have publicly available, up-to-date labor data in all transitioning areas and their neighboring regions to determine exactly what skills are needed for local retraining programs and mobility packages. Strong Governance Diversification of the economy is a common transition strategy to fill the financial gaps. Diversification can come in many forms: tourism, clean technology development, or high-tech or knowledge-based firms to name a few. Both top-down and bottom-up approaches have been taken, though most have been top-down initiatives. These have worked well when channels are set up between affected stakeholders to discuss community needs. Policy intervention and government funding play key roles in mitigating the social consequences of sector restructuring. Case Study Example: Poland’s regional government supported mining communes during coal sector restructuring which reduced the chance of social unrest. 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 24 of 71 Just Transition Case Studies Prepared for the Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned Canada: Alberta (2017- 2030) ●Transition program for coal workers ●One of the most comprehensive policy packages ●One of the first policy packages to explicitly pursue an environmentally motivated coal phase-out ●Provincial government ●Coal workers ●Local communities ●Local power companies Actions Taken: ●Provincial government created the Transition Programme for Coal Workers with 6 policies: 1. A grant for coal workers to find alternative employment 2. A grant for older workers to have a bridge to retirement 3. The reimbursement of moving expenses for workers having to move for a new job 4. Tuition vouchers for retraining 5.The availability of career consultancy and employment services 6. The provision of lists of qualified facilitators who can be hired to assist employers, workers and unions in creating plans for individual worksites to accompany their workers in transition ●2 additional policies added: 1.Off-Coal Agreements with the corporations which owned coal units in the province pledging to provide them with a pay-out to avoid stranded assets 2. Coal Community Transition Fund which allocated funds to projects that would sustainably develop Alberta’s economy Lessons Learned: ●Program was widely accepted because it involved local stakeholders at every level throughout the policymaking and implementation processes. Canada (2018- present) ●Just transition on a national level away ●National government Actions Taken: ●Just Transition Task Force included unions in the conversation and went to each 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 25 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned from coal ●Community organizations ●Labor unions ●NGOs ●Academics ●Environment al groups ●Industry affected community and listened to their concerns ●Some efforts the government organized included: ○Supporting industrial and research clusters to support regional economic diversity ○Starting seed grants, municipal bonds, and revolving loan funds for entrepreneurs ○Support for research of clean energy technologies ○Export of clean energy technologies developed in Canada ○Investment of hundreds of millions of dollars for clean technology development and deployment ○Funding to support programs for re-employment, retirement bridging, retraining and relocation ●The Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Climate Change vocalized support for coal phase-out which reinforced buy-in from labour leadership and key industry representative ●Task force visited fifteen different communities across Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, toured mines and plants, met with workers, held public engagement sessions and finally produced two reports summarising its experience and giving region-specific recommendations to policymakers. ●Canadian transition centers were set up. These are generally funded by public authorities, but staffed by people either from the local community or from the industry being impacted. They stay open for three to five years, or until there is no longer a need for them Lessons Learned: ●Just Transition Task Force was integral for 2 reasons: 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 26 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned ○Negative impacts on workers and communities affected by the transition would be carefully considered and mitigated and ○The most important stakeholders (labour, NGO, business) were involved in developing the recommendations for these Colorado Just Transition Plan (Draft published August 2020) ●Preparing for a just transition as coal becomes less popular ●Coal creates good jobs with good benefits and makes up a disproportionate amount of county funding, need to find another economic engine ●Coal workers ●Coal industry neighboring communities ●Coal transition communities ●State government ●Local government Actions Taken: ●Created nation’s first state Office of Just Transition (OJT) and Just Transition Advisory Committee (JTAC) ●Makes 11 major recommendations including: 1.Individual transition plans (retirement, retraining) 2. Develop a transition package for workers 3. Give transition workers temporary assistance (income and benefits) 4. Diversify or otherwise switch to new industry sectors in coal transition communities 5.Align state programs with local transition plans 6. Maintain and improve community infrastructure 7.Establish a state-wide investment fund for coal transition communities 8.Review state policies to ensure support of essential services and infrastructure and reinvest in coal transition communities ●JTAC planned several trips to coal transition communities to learn about their values and how they want to be supported (in the one meeting that was held, they found the community already had a plan and just needed support); postponed due to COVID ●JTAC created 4 subcommittees to support and inform the work ○Each subcommittee was chaired by a member of Advisory committee and included JTAC members, key stakeholders, and issue experts ○ 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 27 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (San Luis Obispo, CA) (2016) ● Take plant offline ● Help workers transition the plant and jobs ● Workers ● Neighboring communities ● Environment al advocates ● Operating utility Actions Taken: ● Proactive transition plan that, through the support of a strong, diverse coalition, provided a blueprint to safely take the plant offline with a trained workforce, provide a future for the workers and communities, and ensure the power produced by nuclear energy would be replaced by renewables. ● Impacted stakeholders were the ones to create the transition plan Lessons Learned: ● Strong labor-community environmental coalition can win by staying together and not settling for diminished transition packages that do not address the entire coalition’s needs ● Long lead-time to closure (8 years), good retraining and redeployment provisions and generous retrenchment packages were key. ● PG&E’s ability to offer a Just Transition Fund, compensate the community for lost tax revenues and create new jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency were also important. Egypt (2014) ● Energy subsidy reform (all fuel prices rise) ● Trying to revive economy after a change in leadership ● Government championed these reforms ● Academics ● Businesses ● Industry ● Transport sector (drivers were Actions Taken: ● Government provided: ○ Stimulus packages to increase minimum wages and fuel supplies to address fuel deficits ○ Extensions to food subsidy program ○ Short-term free transport in army buses ○ Increased taxes on the wealthy and ○ Imposed a new capital gains tax on business Lessons Learned: 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 28 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned the only real dissenters) ● Clarity and consistency about the urgency of reforms to revive the Egyptian economy were crucial in fostering cohesion both within government and the population ● Implementing social policies with immediate effect and tangible results helped reduce the impact of increased energy prices and increase trust in government. ● Communications strategies explained how energy subsidies disproportionately benefited wealthier households which raised public support for reforms European Union Just Transition (study on feasibility of a Just Transition on a continental scale) (April 2020) ● How to ensure that all people are supported when transitioning to a fossil fuel-free future ● Policymaker s ● EU governments ● Local or regional authorities Lessons Learned: ● Importance of policymakers to engage with local stakeholders before and all throughout the transition process ● Local or regional authorities should generally be favoured to develop just transition policies, in close collaboration with affected workers and communities ● Governments should establish local transition centres, equipped with adequate resources and staffed with qualified personnel that understands local conditions; they work as an information platform between potential employers and workers, providing the latter with individualised career counselling and training for job searching ● Having effective and well-targeted labour and welfare policies that are mutually reinforcing is the cornerstone of any just transition; the challenge is calibrating them so they adequately support workers and do not reproduce or create any inequalities ● Canadian Task Force recommends a labour policy package which includes a pension bridging programme for workers close to retirement, income support for transitioning workers until they find another job, the availability of education and skills building services, aid for re-employment, and A Just Transition Fund ● Worker transfer programmes and on-the-job retraining should be favoured over retraining programmes and that when the latter need to be used, that they target 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 29 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned workers which are considered most likely to succeed ● Workers should be able to keep their health and pension benefits to provide workers with a strong social safety net, giving them the tools and the backing needed to transition away from their previous employment, into new and potentially greener industries. ● Publicly available and up-to-date labour data in all transitioning areas and their neighbouring regions should be available to determine exactly what skills are needed for local retraining programmes and regional mobility packages ● Importance of establishing strong labour and welfare policies in collaboration with all social partners with the development of an in-depth and openly accessible labour market database ● Identification, prioritising, and funding of local infrastructure projects to diversify local economies; both re-specialization of previously fossil fuel-invested communities and diversification into multiple industries has seen success ● Public authorities should give a clear, long-term, and binding timeline for the phasing out of their country or region’s carbon-intensive sectors, monitor and evaluate their just transition policies as they are implemented, publicly report on them and allow for mid-course adjustments, based on factual, scientific assessments of clearly- defined success indicators. Germany: Lusatia region (2016-present) ● Region in the process of transitioning ● Germany’s second experience transitioning ● Federal and regional politicians ● Employers ● Trade unions ● NGOs Actions Taken: ● Compelled to action as part of increased pace of Energiewende (2016) ● Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment aka ‘Coal-Exit Commission was created (a nine-month multi-stakeholder group that made policy recommendations to the government in an effort to ensure a smooth transition away from coal) 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 30 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned workers and communities away from coal (lignite/brown coal) ● Experts ○ 5 key success factors of the Commission: ■ Clear political guidance ■ Well-defined mandate ■ High-level political support ■ Variety of stakeholders involved in the process ■ Targeted and well-informed working atmosphere. ● Coal Exit Commission conducted a series of meetings, visited affected regions, prepped the report and recommendations, established working groups, and submitted the report to the federal government in February 2019 Lessons Learned: ● Report recommendations include: electricity price compensation, compensation for power plant operators, social security measures and compensation for employees with year-specific deadlines Germany: Ruhr Region (1980-present) ● Restructuring coal and steel production industries ● Municipal government ● Federal and state governments ● Business ● Trade unions ● Financial institutions ● Employees Actions Taken: ● Actions to diversify economy; region looked to attract investment from high-tech and knowledge-based firms, expand the service sector, and promote local entrepreneurship ● Required short term, immediate assistance for displaced workers, such as unemployment benefits, pension, and health care benefits, and long-term policies that reimagined economic development and attracted new industries and sectors that could diversify the economic and employment bases ● Creation of “Coal Exit Commission” to phase out reliance on coal ● Social partnership structures, strong welfare and strong community and worker involvement in decision-making (as part of a cooperative tripartite structure) is an important factor (workers and employers all had a place at the table in a bottom-up 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 31 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned approach) ● Starting in 1980, the Ruhr Action Programme coordinated between large interest groups and state institutions to create small to medium enterprises and integrated local actors and political dialogue into regional planning processes which led to projects with a long-term focus on structurally developing the region ● The effort remained largely top-down until 1987 when a coal roundtable with social partners of the industry were gathered to ensure that employees would have a job after transitioning away from coal ● A map of existing and future skills demand was used to set up skills objectives and develop model projects. For each affected worker, an individual re-employment strategy was developed in cooperation with the regional government, the company management, the works councils and social partners. Workers also received qualification/requalification through training and on-the-job certification via the coal and steel companies ● Socially acceptable staff reduction (comprehensive package of just transition measures for affected mineworkers) including: ○ Staggered mine closures ○ Companies had to either retain employees or relocate them (reduce unemployment) ○ Early retirement scheme ○ Access to training and on-the-job certification Lessons Learned: ● From the beginning, a collaborative, coordinated decision was made to invest heavily in supportive infrastructure, higher education and training. ● Economic and regional planning by government led by local actors was key to this 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 32 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned development Germany: Schweinfurt community (2016) ● Just transition on community level ● Bavarian metalworker s’ union (IG Metall) ● Friends of the Earth in Bavaria (BUND) Actions Taken: ● Mobility days introduced to encourage employees to use public transportation ● Create a social and ecological industrial policy (reduce environmental impact, improve quality of life, make industrial processes more efficient) Hazelwood, Latrobe Valley, Australia (2016-2048) ● Regions that heavily rely on and are relied on for electricity- generation faced with looming closures soon ● Hazelwood power station was the biggest employer of the region, but was found to be highly polluting; quickly closed ● Victoria ● Federal government ● Voices of the Valley and other community groups Action Taken: ● Government responded to Hazelwood closure with investment packages that focused on attracting large-scale replacement industries to Latrobe Valley to boost economic development in the region through tax incentives and grants which weren’t very successful at creating replacement jobs, instead creating public distrust over government support ● Australian government created Clean Energy Future Package to help electricity generators in Latrobe Valley and create structural adjustment support, loans to generators to guarantee energy security and to protect against the risk of unexpected closures or capacity reductions; and an Energy Security Fund to negotiate the closure of up to 2,000MW, with the Valley’s Hazelwood Power station as a target. ● Directly affected workers in Latrobe Valley got a structural adjustment package which offered help in accessing existing training opportunities but didn’t offer additional trainings or services to suppliers ● Victorian government created several funds and initiatives like the Regional Partnerships programme, Gippsland Regional Plan, Regional Jobs and Infrastructure 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 33 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned Fund, New Energy Jobs Fund etc ● Latrobe Valley Economic Development Programme: initiative that ‘responds to the needs of the region and supports its economic diversification, growth and resilience ○ Offerings include: ■ Worker Transition Service with upskilling, retraining, skills accreditation, financial advice, and mental health counselling support provided on a walk- in, opendoor basis ■ Early retirement scheme ■ Assist businesses as they transition ■ Support regional economic and industrial diversification ■ Initiatives to monitor and implement suggested strategies ■ Grants for planning and infrastructure in affected communities Lessons Learned: ● ‘Just transition’ approach hasn’t been taken by the federal government. This led to regional government and local actors taking on the role of building just transition proposals and alternatives Indonesia (2014) ● Reform fossil fuel subsidies and instead mobilize investment to regional and village infrastructure ● President Jokowi ran for president ● National government played a key role, reform championed by the president Actions Taken: ● ”One fuel price” policy: ensure that fuel prices are the same in remote areas as they are in major cities ● Massive programs were implemented together with the subsidy reforms (high development benefits): Programs on human and economic development, village funds, harbors, sea borders, special allocation funds, public works, education, social security, agriculture and health, etc Lessons Learned: 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 34 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned with energy reform as a main topic of his campaign (had public support to make significant change) ● Civil society organizations ● Power of public leader in creating change combined with strong public communications efforts centred on a positive narrative about the development benefits of reform Ireland (still in planning phase, report published May 2020) ● Currently doing analysis of other just transitions to inform its own just transition Lessons Learned: 1. Transitions are complex and take time. 2. There is no readily available template, recipe or off-the-shelf approach; however, there are general fundamental lessons from what worked well in other countries. 3. Context and past experiences of transition can shape a region’s response to and experience of transition. 4. Preparation is required for a just transition, whether it be led by government, regional or local/community-based actors, and followed up with government support. 5. Social dialogue is an effective mechanism for fostering trust and adopting a problem solving approach to transition. 6. New institutional structures for social dialogue established by the government, with overarching targets and goals, can create momentum and maintain discipline. Needs to be flexible and based on what works and what is needed under a learning and recursive approach to transition. 7. An inclusive, place-based approach is necessary, with an overall focus on regional development rather than just directly affected workers and companies. 8. Uncovering, valuing and cultivating the existing skills and capacities of a region can assist in sustainably developing a region and creating long-term, high-quality employment. 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 35 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned 9. Skills audits are useful in transitioning a region. May work best alongside a coordinating and economic planning role for the state, such as government investment in alternatives, as well as regional initiatives to use the information provided. 10. State investment in supportive alternative infrastructure is a key driver of a positive transition. 11. Personnel restructuring processes in companies, such as early retirement and internal retraining, negotiated between companies and trade unions and brokered by the government, can lead to an orderly phase-out for workers, although balance is required alongside the community and environmental interests. Italy: Enel coal fired power stations (2013-present) ● Switch from coal to renewable, decarbonized energy ● Union workers ● Enel ● Local institutions, environment al associations, trade unions and entrepreneur s in the area ● Local communities in Actions Taken: ● Social dialogue with union workers ● Just transition agreement framework included: ○ Retention ○ Redeployment ○ Reskilling ○ Early retirement for elderly workers (Fornero Law) ● Provisions for: ○ Apprenticeship recruitment plan for knowledge transfer ○ Mobility and training to optimize internal resources ○ Dedicated training to ensure qualifications and employability of resources during “recruitment phase” and “professional mobility” ○ Opportunities to develop new skills for new business development ● Enel itself developed the Futur-e project (launched in 2015) to involve local stakeholders to identify unique, sustainable development opportunities for each 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 36 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned decommissio ning areas individual site, re-use the existing infrastructure as much as possible and retrain and redeploy all employees of the former plant/mine, either to a different unit on the same site or to another location. Lessons Learned: ● Company built a solid system of industrial relations with its highly unionised workforce through regular consultation, negotiation, and historically non-conflictual relations ● Retraining and redeployment was successful in large part because the company has open access to extensive information on its workers’ skills and characteristics, as well as on its own production needs and employment opportunities. This allowed it to develop something of a perfect internal labour market to respond to the needs of its different units, aided by retraining opportunities and the relocation of some of its workers Los Angeles County (OurCounty) (2017-2045) ● Regional plan establishes a common sustainability vision for the entire County ● Nonprofit sector leaders ● Private sector leaders ● Public sector leaders ● Issue- specific organization Actions Taken: ● Organized stakeholder engagement with workshops at various stages of drafting the plan to gather input from public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors ○ Workshops were topic/theme-specific and organized with morning sessions focused on setting the stage for discussion (detailing the rationale and approach for the OurCounty Plan) and getting feedback on draft goals and then afternoon sessions focused on strategies, proposed actions, and collaborative conversations ○ Individual comments were recorded and synthesized to identify key takeaways ● Organized expos from April to May 2019 every Saturday to give residents, local groups, and youth the opportunity to give their input for the final plan ○ Tapped into existing community-based organizations (like Communities for a Better Environment and SCOPE) to promote expos and to design and deliver 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 37 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned representativ es ● LA County residents ● Local groups events that would speak to their own membership and/or communities ● Plan’s approach embraces the notion that sustainability is inherently intersectional; the sections aren’t organized by topic, but are instead organized by goals ● Not yet implemented, but Goal 4 (and corresponding, clear, actionable tasks) on providing opportunities for all residents and businesses and supports the transition to a green economy resembles a just transition ● Their targets are formatted on a timeline to give a sense of their expected outcomes and progress ● Suggests actions like: 1. Develop a “Just Transition” plan and task force that examines the impact of the transition to a cleaner economy on disadvantaged workers, identifies strategies for supporting displaced workers, and develops recommendations for ensuring inclusive employment practices within growth sectors of the economy 2. Partner with community-based organizations, educational institutions, and the private sector to connect and place graduates and workers with meaningful on- the-job training and employment opportunities within growth sectors of the economy 3. Select common quantifiable metrics to track the outcomes of all LA County funded training programs 4. Institute community benefits programs and project labor agreements, consistent with Board direction, for all County-managed public infrastructure and ecosystem restoration investments, including local hire programs. Lessons Learned: ● Grants and stipends enabled active participation by many nonprofit and equity focused groups who may not have been able to participate as fully otherwise 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 38 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned ● Creative workshop design contributed to intersectional policy discussions and recommendations ● Cross-sectoral workshops yielded examples of collaboration outside the planning process by organizations who interacted at workshops ● Participants lacked action items to take after completing workshops until months later ● Limited time and resources did not allow for geographically diverse venues; events were exclusively held downtown ● The compressed timeframe posed some challenges. While the workshop briefing documents were informative and posed goals and strategies to stimulate and focus discussion, often there was insufficient lead time to thoroughly review in advance of the workshops. Poland: Coal sector transformation (1998-present) ● Loss of jobs in coal sector ● Influenced by EU climate goals ● Polish government, especially the minister in charge of coal mining ● Trade unions (e.g. Solitary trade union) ● Energy companies ● Regional governments Actions Taken: ● Mining Social Package (1998) included: ○ Voluntary layoffs offered to more miners ○ Associated financial support was much higher (included: miners’ leave to incentivize early retirement, one-time unconditional redundancy payment, welfare allowance and retraining courses) ● Special privileges to mining communes Lessons Learned: ● Involvement of influential trade unions in the process of designing and negotiating instruments of the Mining Social Package turned out to be a crucial factor for implementation of a large-scale employment reduction program without significant social unrest ● Voluntary approach to incentivize job reductions proved to be successful 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 39 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned ● Environment al groups ● Policy intervention at the regional level to support mining communes proved to be also important for mitigating the social consequences of coal sector restructuring Scotland (2019-2021) ● Just transition in process looking at how the entire country’s workforce can be transitioned away from fossil fuel-based employment (since it’s more general, there is criticism about its efficacy) ● Just Transition Commission: 12 individuals from business, industry, unions (STUC), technology experts, civil society (2050 Group), the public sector and environment al groups (WWF) ● Just Transition Partnership ● STUC Actions Taken: ● Scottish Just Transition Commission: established with non-statutory footing for 2 years (2019-21) ○ Assigned to collate recommendations and advice for government on how the transition to a ‘net zero’ economy by 2045 can be done in a fair and just manner for the Scottish ministers; created by the Just Transition Partnership ● 10 meetings will take place between the inaugural meeting in January 2019 and January 2021 around the following topics: ○ Power generation and distribution ○ Transport/Buildings/Public Sector ○ Oil and gas ○ Land and agriculture ○ Energy-intensive industries ○ Finance and investment/business ○ Innovation and delivery at scale ○ Skills and labour markets/Education ● The meetings will take place all over the country to engage in meaningful social dialogue with those most likely to be affected ● Skills Investment Plan demonstrates that the skills necessary for building a low- carbon economy are there – the difficulty is in accessing them. These difficulties include lack of apprenticeships in the sector with an appropriate recruitment pathway and a lack of collaboration between universities, colleges and industry which is needed to build the resource pool needed to solve the ‘technical challenges’ in low- 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 40 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned ● Friends of the Earth Scotland carbon industry ● Scottish government and associated bodies such as Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Invest in Fife have made significant investments in exploring the opportunities of the low-carbon economy in terms of jobs growth, and assessing the skills required in order to reap those opportunities ● Scottish government established the Transition Training Fund: to manage oil and gas workers during a momentary downturn in oil prices. It was not created to transition workers into low-carbon employment ● Just Transition Commission would like to fund more “brown to green” jobs ● Major issue is that, despite the clear crossover skills potential of the fossil-fuel and low-carbon economy and increasing renewables in the energy mix, the transition of workers from ‘brown to green’ jobs is not occurring. Lesson Learned: ● Taskforce was not afforded enough financial assistance to achieve the transition plans created with stakeholders that also included a low-carbon focus. Local authority powers were not strengthened to deliver the plans developed locally and local community participation was consequently weakened as a result. Scotland: Longannet power station, Fife (2015- 2018) ● Closure of the last coal power plant in Scotland ● Effort to mitigate the impacts of closure locally and across the supply ● Trade unions ● Affected local councils ● Scottish Enterprise Actions Taken: ● Longannet Taskforce focused on creating economic alternatives and support for the whole region, not just for the power plant and supply-chain workers; nearly all workers found alternative employment or training through the Taskforce ● Taskforce included: co-chairs by the Minister for Business and Energy and Tourism (Fergus Ewing MSP and later Paul Wheelhouse MSP) and Cllr David Ross, joint- leader of Fife Council, Scottish Power, trade unions, representatives of the affected local councils, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Transport Scotland, 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 41 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned chain ● Private sector ● Community groups ● Local government ● NGOs ● Business supply chain ● Scottish Power the Department for Work and Pensions, key private-sector representatives (Hargreaves, Clydeport), trades unions, community group representatives and local politicians (MSPs and MPs). ● Develop a multi-agency economic recovery plan to mitigate the impacts of closure locally and across the supply chain ● Ran from August 2015 to May 2018, with eight meetings ● Assessed the scale, location and timing of closure impacts and produced a response to mitigate impacts on the workforce, local communities and businesses ● Taskforce developed an Economic Recovery Action Plan, which examined how to sustain employment in Longannet and support the community in finding replacement economic activity and regional diversification ● Taskforce brought a clear and focused remit, bringing together the key players from the public and private sectors with trades unions to coordinate the development of a joint, multi-agency plan to explore how to deliver initiatives to support individuals, business and communities most affected by the early closure of Longannet. ● Report on community engagement here Lessons Learned: ● Proactive planning was not conducted to cope with the closure, which would be considered more in keeping with a ‘just transition’ approach; this act was purely reactive, so not as sustainable ● Documentation was provided from taskforce’s meetings. Lessons learned here ● Things that went well: ○ Clear Task Force leadership and the alignment of partner resources ○ Workforce outcomes were quickly secured, and supply chain impacts mitigated. ○ Cross local authority, agency and partner collaboration was enabled and 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 42 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned sustained. ○ Timely support was provided to affected businesses. ○ Delivery of the Action Plan projects and handling of detailed subject matters was aided by collective prioritisation and the setting of a 3-5-year horizon ● Things that could be improved: ○ Greater parallels could have been made linking energy sector expertise and industry activity elsewhere ○ The designation of the Fife Forth Coast as an energy corridor and the site as a national development (NPF3) relied on carbon capture and storage proposals for Longannet, which did not occur. Broader designation/s may have assisted. ○ The scale and (UK/International) role of the station was at times under stated and more could have been made of the history, heritage and engineering contribution. ○ The Task Force economic recovery action plan was not specifically resourced nor initially was supported by the Longannet site owners to engage in proactive discussions over the future of the site. This altered once demolition began in 2017. ● Barriers: ○ The recognition of the subregion as an economic unit took time to establish with economic data and low carbon expertise/assets hard to source. ○ Local influence on energy policy matters and the appreciation nationally of the local association/s (type, nature and scale) with the station were low. ○ The UK wide reach of the station workforce and contractual culture of suppliers meant that large firms absorbed impact whilst local stakeholders could not. ○ The Task Force response was primarily economic in scope with no remit to consider resolution of broader coal industry legacy issues 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 43 of 71 Case Study Context/Topics Addressed Stakeholders Involved Actions Taken/Lessons Learned ○ Proactive approaches from site operators/owners, funded programs, and supportive and sustained government policy are key. Ukraine (2017) ● Massive job loss and restructuring due to coal sector restructuring ● Coal supporters: Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry, labor unions, trade unions ● Phase-out advocates: civil society organizations Actions Taken: ● Uncompetitive coal sector and EU targets influenced the switch to renewables ● Job creation in new facilities and enterprises was implemented without proper assessment of whether these jobs were actually needed, or whether the factory and plant were profitable and competitive ● The failure to support workers resulted in unemployment and social problems in mining regions ● Efforts thus far have fallen short of the mark in terms of job creation Lessons Learned: ● Incentives for job creation through massive scale-up of state energy efficiency programs can mitigate the negative consequences of the energy transition in Ukraine ● Transition plans should be developed in an open dialogue with mining communities, municipalities, civil society organizations and local business 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 44 of 71 Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission 6. Meeting Date: 10/26/2020 Subject: RECEIVE Update on Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge Department: Conservation & Development Presenter: Sustainability Commission Members Contact: Jody London, DCD Referral History: In 2018, the County received a grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to pilot an online behavior change program designed to encourage individual action to address our changing climate. Working in partnership with Cleaner Contra Costa and the cities of Antioch, Walnut Creek, and San Pablo, the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge has been operating for about 18 months. The Sustainability Commission received a report on this project at its February 25, 2019 meeting. Referral Update: The Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge has been operating for about two years. Notwithstanding early challenges, including instability in the community outreach role, the program has enrolled nearly 800 homes. The COVID-19 pandemic required the project to revisit the outreach and engagement strategies. Earlier this year we received a no-cost extension for the project through March 2021. The project goals and strategies have recently been revised. The attached presentation, which will be presented by Colleen Noland of Sustainable Contra Costa, provides more information. Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): RECEIVE Update on Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge Fiscal Impact (if any): None. ATTACHMENT(S) Welcome to the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge! 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 45 of 71 Welcome to theCleaner Contra Costa Challenge! Palo Alto Go Carbon Free Challenge Colleen NolandCommunity Organizer10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 46 of 71 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 47 of 71 40% of emissions in the U.S. come from 5 basic household activities 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 48 of 71 We Have Solutions Household Actions = Big Impact10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 49 of 71 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 50 of 71 Climate Smart San Jose Challenge Platform 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 51 of 71 Climate Smart San Jose Challenge Platform 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 52 of 71 Find Actions Right for Your Household 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 53 of 71 Find Actions Right for Your Household 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 54 of 71 Find Actions Right for Your Household 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 55 of 71 Steps and How-To Guides 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 56 of 71 Custom Resources 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 57 of 71 Team Page 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 58 of 71 Team Page 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 59 of 71 Quick Boost ▪Adjust Thermostat ▪Choose 100% Green Electricity ▪Compost On a Budget ▪Take Shorter Showers ▪Turn Stuff Off ▪Have a Say Step it Up ▪Buy or Lease and Electric Vehicle ▪Install Solar Panels ▪Host a Virtual Party, Start a Team Family Friendly ▪Eat Lower Down the Carbon Chain ▪Wash Clothes Wisely ▪Reduce & Reuse Something for Everyone 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 60 of 71 How are participants using the Challenge? 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 61 of 71 How are participants using the Challenge? 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 62 of 71 How are participants using the Challenge? 10-26-20 Sustainabiltiy Commission Mtg - Agenda Packet, Page 63 of 71 How are participants using the Challenge? Contra Costa County Progress! CleanerContraCosta.org Join the Challenge and Share with Others! Colleen Noland Community Organizer colleen@sustainablecoco.org Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission 7. Meeting Date: 10/26/2020 Subject: RECEIVE reports from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed Department: Conservation & Development Presenter: Sustainability Commission Members Contact: Jody London, DCD Referral History: This is a standing item of the Commission. Referral Update: Commission members and alternates will provide updates to the full Commission. Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): RECEIVE reports from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed. Fiscal Impact (if any): None. ATTACHMENT(S) No file(s) attached. Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission 8. Meeting Date: 10/26/2020 Subject: RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Coordinator Department: Conservation & Development Presenter: Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator Contact: Jody London, DCD Referral History: This is a standing item of the Commission. Referral Update: Key activities since the Commission’s last meeting on August 24, 2020 are listed below. •The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the climate emergency resolution on September 22. Staff is beginning to chart implementation of the many actions directed in the resolution. •Sustainability staff have been supporting the General Plan team in developing the draft environmental justice policies for the General Plan. Staff also have been helping facilitate General Plan meetings in communities in unincorporated areas of the County. •Sustainability staff submitted a proposal to the California Department of Conservation for a planning grant to develop a carbon sequestration feasibility study for Contra Costa County. The County is partnering with the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District and the University of California Cooperative Extension to develop the feasibility study (if the grant is awarded). •Contra Costa Health Services was awarded a $527,558 grant for a three-year period from the California Department of Health Care Services through the Sierra Health Foundation for the Contra Costa Health Plan and the Department of Conservation and Development to provide asthma preventative services in conjunction with energy efficiency measures to Health Plan members with severe asthma. MCE and the Association for Energy Affordability are also partners in this grant. Contra Costa Health Services also recently received a one year $100,000 grant from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to augment the mitigations provided by this project with Greenhouse gas reduction and indoor air quality improvement measures •Public Works energy staff are overseeing the installation of rooftop solar at 10 County facilities. Three of those sites will include battery storage. •Contra Costa County received $42,000 in rebates from MCE for the installation of 14 electric vehicle (EV) charge stations. •Contra Costa County now has 39 EV charge stations enrolled in the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, which provides credits for electricity for EVs. The credits can be monetized and are currently valued at approximately $0.19/kWh. •Contra Costa County Public Works is completing a $15 million safety project that includes a truck climbing lane and two bio-swales to treat storm water runoff on Kirker Pass Road. The bio-swales are designed to recharge groundwater and filter out pollutants before the runoff from the pavement flows into streams. The bio-swales also meter the flow of water to streams in an effort to avoid high volume and rapid flows in creeks during a rain event, which could cause erosion and degradation of water quality. (Photos attached of the two bio-swales that have been hydro-seeded) •The fluorescent to LED lighting retrofit at 30 Douglas, the County’s Information Technology headquarters, is nearing completion on-time and within budget. •Sustainability staff assisted Supervisor John Gioia in planning Clean Air Day in the Bay Area, which occurred on October 7, 2020. See https://www.cleanairday.org/. •Hosted an online meeting of the Sustainability Exchange on September 24 for local government staff in Contra Costa County. Close to 40 people participated and learned about strategies for effective visual communication. The Q4 Sustainability Exchange meeting will focus on climate action plans. •Continued to administer the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge. •Participated in professional learning opportunities regarding environmental justice, carbon sequestration, communication and facilitation strategies, race and equity, and related. •Collaborated with County staff working on topics including land use and transportation, hazardous materials, green business program, the County’s state and federal legislative platforms, economic development, health, codes, solid waste, energy, and related. •Participated in regional activities. Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): RECEIVE report from Sustainability Coordinator. Fiscal Impact (if any): None. ATTACHMENT(S) No file(s) attached. Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission 9. Meeting Date: 8/24/2020 Subject: RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Commission Chair and IDENTIFY TOPICS for next report to Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability Department: Conservation & Development Presenter: Howdy Goudey, Chair Contact: Jody London, DCD Referral History: This is a standing item of the Commission. Referral Update: The Sustainability Commission Chair provides an update at each meeting to Commission members on the administration of the Commission, meetings of the Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability, and other issues of interest to the Commission. Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): RECEIVE report from Sustainability Commission Chair. Fiscal Impact (if any): None. ATTACHMENT(S) No file(s) attached.