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City of Pleasanton
<br />Pleasanton Climate Action Plan 2.0
<br />a. Would the project generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a
<br />significant impact on the environment?
<br />The greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of the Earth. The
<br />majority of radiation from the sun hits Earth's surface and warms it. The surface in turn radiates
<br />heat back towards the atmosphere, known as infrared radiation. Gases and clouds in the
<br />atmosphere trap and prevent some of this heat from escaping into space and re -radiate it in all
<br />directions. This process is essential to support life on Earth, because it warms the planet by
<br />approximately 60°F. Emissions from human activities since the beginning of the industrial revolution
<br />(approximately 270 years ago) have been adding to the natural greenhouse effect by resulting in
<br />increased gases in the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to an average increase in Earth's
<br />temperature. Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's
<br />surface, and climate change is the resultant change in wind patterns, precipitation, and storms over
<br />an extended period.
<br />GHGs produced by human activities include CO2, methane (CHa), nitrous oxide (N20),
<br />hydroflourocarcons, perfluorinated compound, and sulfur hexafluoride (see Appendix B for more
<br />details related to these GHG gases).63 Combustion of fossil fuels (gasoline, natural gas, and coal),
<br />deforestation, and decomposition of waste release carbon into the atmosphere that had been
<br />locked underground and stored in oil, gas, and other hydrocarbon deposits or in the biomass of
<br />surface vegetation. Since 1750, estimated concentrations of CO2, CH4, and N20 in the atmosphere
<br />have increased by over 36 percent, 148 percent, and 18 percent respectively, primarily due to
<br />human activity. Emissions of GHGs affect the atmosphere directly by changing its chemical
<br />composition.
<br />Changes to the land surface also indirectly affect the atmosphere by changing the way in which
<br />Earth absorbs gases from the atmosphere. Potential impacts in California due to climate change
<br />include sea level rise, more extreme -heat days and high -ozone days, larger and more frequent
<br />63 The CAP 2.0 only considers emissions of CO2, CHa, and N20, because these are the GHGs most relevant to local government
<br />policymaking. These gases comprise a large majority of GHG emissions at the community level. The remaining gases are emitted primarily
<br />in private sector manufacturing and electricity transmission and are the subject of regulation at the State level. Therefore, these gases
<br />were omitted from the CAP 2.0.
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<br />Potentially
<br />Significant
<br />Impact
<br />Less than
<br />Significant
<br />with
<br />Mitigation
<br />Incorporated
<br />Less than
<br />Significant No
<br />Impact Impact
<br />Would the project:
<br />a. Generate greenhouse gas emissions, either
<br />directly or indirectly, that may have a
<br />significant impact on the environment?
<br />❑
<br />❑
<br />■ ❑
<br />b. Conflict with any applicable plan, policy, or
<br />regulation adopted to reduce the emissions
<br />of greenhouse gases?—I
<br />LI
<br />C
<br />a. Would the project generate GHG emissions, either directly or indirectly, that may have a
<br />significant impact on the environment?
<br />The greenhouse effect is a natural occurrence that helps regulate the temperature of the Earth. The
<br />majority of radiation from the sun hits Earth's surface and warms it. The surface in turn radiates
<br />heat back towards the atmosphere, known as infrared radiation. Gases and clouds in the
<br />atmosphere trap and prevent some of this heat from escaping into space and re -radiate it in all
<br />directions. This process is essential to support life on Earth, because it warms the planet by
<br />approximately 60°F. Emissions from human activities since the beginning of the industrial revolution
<br />(approximately 270 years ago) have been adding to the natural greenhouse effect by resulting in
<br />increased gases in the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to an average increase in Earth's
<br />temperature. Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's
<br />surface, and climate change is the resultant change in wind patterns, precipitation, and storms over
<br />an extended period.
<br />GHGs produced by human activities include CO2, methane (CHa), nitrous oxide (N20),
<br />hydroflourocarcons, perfluorinated compound, and sulfur hexafluoride (see Appendix B for more
<br />details related to these GHG gases).63 Combustion of fossil fuels (gasoline, natural gas, and coal),
<br />deforestation, and decomposition of waste release carbon into the atmosphere that had been
<br />locked underground and stored in oil, gas, and other hydrocarbon deposits or in the biomass of
<br />surface vegetation. Since 1750, estimated concentrations of CO2, CH4, and N20 in the atmosphere
<br />have increased by over 36 percent, 148 percent, and 18 percent respectively, primarily due to
<br />human activity. Emissions of GHGs affect the atmosphere directly by changing its chemical
<br />composition.
<br />Changes to the land surface also indirectly affect the atmosphere by changing the way in which
<br />Earth absorbs gases from the atmosphere. Potential impacts in California due to climate change
<br />include sea level rise, more extreme -heat days and high -ozone days, larger and more frequent
<br />63 The CAP 2.0 only considers emissions of CO2, CHa, and N20, because these are the GHGs most relevant to local government
<br />policymaking. These gases comprise a large majority of GHG emissions at the community level. The remaining gases are emitted primarily
<br />in private sector manufacturing and electricity transmission and are the subject of regulation at the State level. Therefore, these gases
<br />were omitted from the CAP 2.0.
<br />52
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