When I first ran for the Assembly in 2001, it was not a bright time in California on environmental issues. My predecessor Fred Keeley was an exception—authoring landmark marine life protection legislation and successful resources bond measures, as well as helping with a milestone auto emissions bill. But strong air quality and fuel efficiency proposals usually did not survive the Assembly.

Republican Assemblymembers tended not to support strong environmental proposals—and they were joined by “moderate” Democrats to keep proposals from being enacted. In my first term, there was even trouble with environmental proposals in the resources budget subcommittee—a place where such proposals should find favor.

This has gradually changed. Last year’s AB 32 on greenhouse gases put California ahead of almost every state in taking action to stem emissions that cause global warming.

AB 32 was heralded as a bipartisan effort.  To the extent Democratic legislators passed it, and a Republican governor signed it, this is true.  But throughout the legislative process, just one Republican legislator was supportive of this bill. The significant change from past failures was the unity among the Democrats that ensured passage.

AB 32 has changed the debate in Sacramento.  Even legislators who didn’t support the bill are now using climate change to justify long-sought dams in the Central Valley.

This past week was the deadline for introduction of bills in this legislative session—and several ambitious environmental bills were introduced. Last year I attempted a bill on voluntary residential green building standards, though it stalled at the end of the session This year, I believe the bill’s chance for success is good—and possibly in a stronger form than before.

While I was successful with an urban landscaping water conservation bill, I was unsuccessful in moving California to use high-efficiency toilets. This year, the climate change debate may have weakened opposition to the bill and I have reintroduced it—the movement of water is the single greatest consumer of electricity in California, the generation of which creates greenhouse gas emissions.

In November voters approved a Resources Bond to fund much-needed statewide environmental efforts, including climate change planning.  I have introduced a bill to use some of those bond funds to assist coastal communities in planning for sea level rise over the coming decades.

     Californians have a renewed focus on climate change and environmental issues.  This has given legislators the boost they needed to move California government to where the public is.  Hopefully, this trend will continue.