The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known as AB 32, requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to convene an Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) to advise the Board in developing the Scoping Plan and any other pertinent matter in implementing AB 32. The EJAC is required to be comprised of representatives from communities in the State with the most significant exposure to air pollution, including communities with minority populations or low-income populations, or both. On January 25, 2007, the Board appointed the first EJAC to advise it on the Initial Scoping Plan and other climate change programs. To advise the Board on subsequent AB 32 Scoping Plan updates, CARB solicited nominations and reconvened new committees for each update. EJAC meetings are open to the public and include a public comment period.
One notable weakness of this scheme is that the recommendations of the EJAC, statutorily, flow to CARB. There is no mandate that they be submitted to the Administration, nor is there any mandate that they be considered by the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change, the Legislative oversight body. These gaps likely limit the influence of the body.
Nevertheless, the EJAC’s recommendations have had some influence in shaping California’s climate policies. For example, the EJAC recommended that the California Air Resources Board implement facility-specific emissions caps to ensure that emissions at all facilities in disadvantaged communities fall at least as fast as the state average. The EJAC’s recommendations have also been at times instrumental and effective in ensuring that California’s climate policies are designed with equity, justice, and human dignity in mind.
The EJAC’s meetings and activities are publicly available, and interested parties can subscribe to receive email updates to stay informed. The EJAC’s recommendations are important for policymakers and stakeholders who are interested in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in California while ensuring that the benefits and burdens of climate policies are distributed equitably.
2024 Meetings
November 14, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording
October 11, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording
September 12, 2024 (Joint Meeting of CARB and EJAC): Materials and YouTube Recording
September 3, 2024 (Continuation of August 3 Meeting): Materials and YouTube Recording
August 16, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording
June 14, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording.
May 16, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording.
April 4, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording.
March 15, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording.
February 8, 2024 Meeting: Materials and YouTube Recording.
See further details of its most recent meetings in our blog.