Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Response to Comments

VII. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING
Greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide and methane trap heat in the earth’s
atmosphere. Increased concentrations of these gases over time produce an increase in the
average surface temperature of the earth. The rising temperatures can in turn produce
changes in precipitation patterns, storm severity, and sea level, resulting in what is commonly
referred to as “climate change.”
The California State Legislature has proposed and the Governor has approved laws and
policies to reduce the amount of GHG generated each year. As stated in Assembly Bill 32,
Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), passed in 2006; “The State of California found that
Global Warming would have detrimental effects on some of California’s largest industries
including agriculture, wine, tourism, skiing, recreational and commercial fishing, and forestry.”
AB 32 requires statewide GHG emissions in California be reduced to 1990 levels by the year
2020 and requires the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to adopt rules and regulations to
achieve this goal.
California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has developed a “Cool Parks” initiative
to address climate change within the State Park system. Cool Parks proposes that DPR itself,
as well as resources under its care, adapt to the environmental changes resulting from climate
change. In order to fulfill the Cool Parks initiative, DPR is dedicated to using alternative energy
sources, low emission vehicles, recycling and reusing supplies and materials, and educating
staff and visitors on climate change (DPR 2008).
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change
Some GHG such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through
natural processes and through human activities. Naturally occurring greenhouse gasses
include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.
Water Vapor - Water Vapor is the most abundant GHG in the atmosphere. Changes in
its concentration are considered a result of climate feedback loops related to the
warming of the atmosphere rather than a direct result of human activities. The feedback
loop that involves water is critically important to projecting future climate change. As the
temperature of the atmosphere rises, more water is evaporated from ground storage
(rivers, oceans, reservoirs, soil). Because the air is warmer, the absolute humidity can
be higher (in essence, the air is able to 'hold' more water when it's warmer), leading to
more water vapor in the atmosphere. As a greenhouse gas, the higher concentration of
water vapor is then able to absorb more thermal energy radiated from the Earth, thus
further warming the atmosphere. The warmer atmosphere can then hold more water
vapor and so on and so on. This is referred to as a 'positive feedback loop'. However,
scientific uncertainty exists in defining the extent and importance of this feedback loop.
As water vapor increases in the atmosphere, more of it would eventually also condense
into clouds, which are more able to reflect incoming solar radiation (thus allowing less
energy to reach the Earth's surface and heat it up).
Asian Clam Control Project IS/MND
Emerald Bay State Park
California Department of Parks and Recreation
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