Common use of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Clause in Contracts

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are the leading threat to Oregon’s public health and the environment. Scientists predict that the scale and frequency of climate change impacts in Oregon will continue to grow throughout this century, damaging our economy, endangering public health, and destroying natural and cultural resources. Oregon has the capability and hence the responsibility to demonstrate specific steps that state governments can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and begin to bend the trajectory of climate change back. In December of 2021, the EQC adopted rules establishing Oregon’s Climate Protection Program. The CPP rules required reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels and from natural gas and propane of at least 50 percent by 2035 and by 90 percent by 2050. The CPP also regulates greenhouse gas emissions from the largest industrial sources in the state through a best available technology approach. The CPP was invalidated by the Oregon Court of Appeals based on a failure to notice those rules in a specific manner. DEQ is initiating a rulemaking process to re-establish a climate program in place of the invalidated CPP rules. Additionally, DEQ administers Oregon's low-carbon fuel standard, follows California's clean car standards, enforces the most stringent limits on landfill methane emissions in the nation, oversees incentives for clean vehicles that have helped make Oregon a national leader in EV adoption, and implements a variety of other programs to reduce GHG emissions. Addressing Environmental Justice Environmental justice is integral to DEQ’s mission to protect the public health of all people and the environment that we depend on. Federal and state mandates guide DEQ’s work to integrate environmental justice into its programs. DEQ adopted a policy on environmental justice in 1997 and is embarking on an update of that policy in connection with a significant expansion of how environmental justice will be incorporated into all program areas, including both regulatory and non-regulatory actions, program implementation and policy development (rulemaking, legislative proposals, and internal management directives), and budget development and execution. Title VI of the Federal 1964 Civil Rights Act and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations), Executive Order 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), and Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad) enable and authorize EPA’s commitment to Civil Rights and Environmental Justice. Additionally, Oregon’s Environmental Justice law (Oregon Revised Statutes 182.535-182.550) enacted in 2008, requires state agencies to consider environmental justice when determining whether and how to act, providing greater public participation opportunities to all people affected by decisions, and creating an agencywide environmental justice coordinator role to support this work. These requirements were recently strengthened with House Bill 4077 (2022), expanding some elements of Oregon’s environmental justice laws, and establishing the development of a new, Oregon-specific mapping tool for vulnerable communities. Appendix D describes Environmental Justice-focused work that DEQ accomplished during the period covered by the 2022-2024 PPA, and the work forecasted for 2024-2026. Improving Water Quality Clean water is critical to Oregon’s environment, community public health, tribal nations’ interests and to our economy. Protecting Oregon's rivers, lakes, streams, territorial sea, and groundwater quality keeps the state’s waters safe for people, fish, and other uses. DEQ works with federal, state, tribal, local, and business partners on the overall water quality and ecosystem protection efforts. This includes both innovative and efficient grey and green wastewater infrastructure, and implementation of clean water plans. Improving Air Quality Meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards and reducing exposure to toxic air pollution are key elements of DEQ’s work to protect public health. DEQ works closely with communities where air quality health standards are not met, or in danger of not being met, to develop strategies, plans and programs to reduce emissions and ultimately bring those communities into attainment with federal standards. DEQ also works to reduce air toxics from specific sources such as vehicles, diesel engines, woodstoves, and industrial and commercial operations. DEQ also works to improve visibility in protected areas by developing and implementing strategies to reduce and prevent pollution from industrial, commercial, motor vehicle and household sources.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Increasing levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are the leading threat to Oregon’s public health and the environment. Scientists predict that the scale and frequency of climate change impacts in Oregon will continue to grow throughout this century, damaging our economy, endangering public health, and destroying natural and cultural resources. Oregon has the capability and hence the responsibility to demonstrate specific steps that state governments can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and begin to bend the trajectory of climate change back. In December of 2021, the EQC Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission adopted rules establishing Oregon’s 's Climate Protection Program. The CPP rules required reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuels , which sets declining and from natural gas and propane of at least 50 percent by 2035 and by 90 percent by 2050. The CPP also regulates greenhouse gas enforceable limits on GHG emissions from the largest industrial sources in the state through a best available technology approach. The CPP was invalidated by the Oregon Court use of Appeals based on a failure to notice those rules in a specific manner. DEQ is initiating a rulemaking process to re-establish a climate program in place of the invalidated CPP rulesfossil fuels. Additionally, DEQ administers Oregon's low-carbon fuel standard, follows California's clean car standards, enforces the most stringent limits on landfill methane emissions in the nation, oversees incentives for clean vehicles that have helped make Oregon a national leader in EV adoption, and implements a variety of other programs to reduce GHG emissions. Addressing Environmental Justice in Historically Overburdened Communities Environmental justice is integral to DEQ’s mission to protect the public health of all people and the environment that we depend on. Federal and state mandates guide DEQ’s work to integrate environmental justice into its programs. DEQ adopted a policy on environmental justice in 1997 and is embarking on an update of that policy in connection with a significant expansion of how environmental justice will be incorporated into all program areas, including both regulatory and non-regulatory actions, program implementation and policy development (rulemaking, legislative proposals, and internal management directives), and budget development and execution. Title VI of the Federal 1964 Civil Rights Act and Federal Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations), Executive Order 13985 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), and Executive Order 14008 (Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad) enable and authorize EPA’s commitment to Civil Rights and Environmental Justice. Additionally, Oregon’s Environmental Justice law (Oregon Revised Statutes 182.535-182.550) enacted in 2008, requires state agencies to consider environmental justice when determining whether and how to act, providing greater public participation opportunities to all people affected by decisions, and creating an agencywide environmental justice coordinator role to support this work. These requirements were recently strengthened with House Bill Xxxx 4077 (2022), expanding some elements of Oregon’s environmental justice laws, laws and establishing the development of a new, Oregon-specific mapping tool for vulnerable communities. Appendix D describes Environmental Justice-focused work that DEQ accomplished during the period covered by the 20222020-2024 2022 PPA, and the work forecasted for 2022-2024-2026. Improving Water Quality Clean water is critical to Oregon’s environment, community public health, tribal nations’ interests and to our economy. Protecting Oregon's rivers, lakes, streams, territorial sea, sea and groundwater quality keeps the state’s waters safe for people, fish, fish and other uses. DEQ works with federal, state, tribal, local, local and business partners on the overall water quality and ecosystem protection efforts. This includes both innovative and efficient grey and green wastewater infrastructure, and implementation of clean water plans. Improving Air Quality Meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards and reducing exposure to toxic air pollution are key elements of DEQ’s work to protect public health. DEQ works closely with communities where air quality health standards are not met, or in danger of not being met, to develop strategies, plans and programs to reduce emissions and ultimately bring those communities into attainment with federal standards. DEQ also works to reduce air toxics from specific sources such as vehicles, diesel engines, woodstoves, woodstoves and industrial and commercial operations. DEQ also works to improve visibility in protected areas by developing and implementing strategies to reduce and prevent pollution from industrial, commercial, motor vehicle and household sources.