Environment
With the landmark passage of AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, California has established mandatory reporting requirements and capped greenhouse gas emissions produced by industries categorized as significant sources, further distinguishing itself as the only state that caps carbon emissions. The Chamber embraces the idea that being a responsible business owner requires recognizing our shared responsibility to be good stewards of our natural resources. In an effort to encourage all businesses to achieve their maximum potential while balancing this shared responsibility, the Chamber subscribes to the premise that environmental challenges and opportunities must be addressed directly with resolution and veracity.

To this end, we must consider the role businesses will share in ensuring that the state’s efforts at regulatory reform are guided by an ever-present interest in preserving jobs and encouraging new job development and working to ensure that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is judiciously and reasonably applied in a manner consistent with the principles of good environmental stewardship and the promotion of a vibrant and competitive job environment. The Chamber recognizes the need to strike a balance between environmental improvement goals and sustaining economic development in the greater Riverside region. The Chamber will continue to monitor and advocate for sound policies relating to natural resources, waste, contamination and air and water pollution control.

The Chamber Supports:

• Advancing reasonable measures that provide for the equitable and cost-effective implementation of cap and trade, while allowing for continued economic growth.
• Developing and implementing the regulatory policies of AB 32 and SB 375, the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, in a manner fostering economic competitiveness and development opportunities for businesses of all sizes and directs revenues to the appropriate programs that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Advocating for environmental strategies that allocate responsibility equitably between the region and across all business sectors.
• Advocating for reasonable solutions and funding for critical species and habitat issues.
• Advancing the reasonable implementation and expediting of CEQA regulations through measures such as, but not exclusive of others:
  • Developing regulatory reforms that incentivize the adoption of environmentally sensitive practices through regulatory and tax relief, as well as expediting the legal challenge process.
  • Applying the provisions of CEQA—as well as opportunities to streamline CEQA requirements—in a manner that provides equal opportunity to both large and small businesses.
  • Analyzing the costs of environmental mitigation to ensure the proper balance between the environment and business.
• Environmentally friendly programs and measures that promote voluntary participation, such as:
  • Programs and efforts that encourage industries to participate in reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Policies that are dedicated to both energy conservation and the use of renewable energy.
  • Policies and guidelines using sustainable building design for new projects.
• Programs and initiatives that encourage voluntary phasing-in new “green” technology and provide local governments and business with adequate incentive to support such technology changes.

The Chamber Opposes:

• Environmental regulatory approaches or mandates that the business community knows to be unduly punitive or costly and which, if implemented, will damage the region’s competitiveness or result in a net-loss of jobs to our communities.

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Jun 26   AfterHours Business Mixer
5:00 PM @ Main+Nine - 3870 Main St.
For more information, contact Bryan Pratt at bpratt@riverside-chamber.com Jul 03   INSIDE Downtown
7:30 AM @ Mission Inn Foundation - 3750 Market St.
For more information, contact Liam Walgenbach at lwalgenbach@riverside-chamber.com Jul 08   Business Education Partnership
7:30 AM @ Chamber's Bourns Boardroom - 3985 University Ave.
For more information, contact Ramy Shbaita at rshbaita@riverside-chamber.com Jul 10   Good Morning Riverside
7:00 AM @ The Historic Mission Inn Hotel & Spa - 3649 Mission Inn Ave.
For more information, contact Bryan Pratt at bpratt@riverside-chamber.com Jul 16   Business In Action
7:30 AM @ Chamber's Bourns Boardroom - 3985 University Ave.
For more information, contact Shellena Padilla at spadilla@riverside-chamber.com