Climate Change

From water supply impacts to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change is a key issue for public water agencies. Landmark legislation on climate change signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, the Global Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 through a combination of regulations and market mechanisms.

AB 32 implementation is under way, and navigating new rules and policies stemming from the legislation will be a major focus for local water agencies in the coming years.

ACWA has established a Climate Change Task Force to review and provide input on climate change-related policies and identify opportunities for water agencies to secure funding to accelerate efforts such as water conservation, recycling and renewable energy projects.

ACWA Board Adopts Policy Principles

ACWA’s Board of Directors has adopted policy principles on climate change that call for innovative approaches and policies that ensure California’s water supply infrastructure can meet the challenges created or exacerbated by climate change.

  • Read ACWA’s policy principles on climate change

Latest News about Climate Change

Cheaper sensor technology is bringing to light more information about California’s snowpack as researchers study how climate change... read»
Gov. Brown and Scientists Call for Action on Climate Change, Global Environment
Gov. Jerry Brown joined scientists from throughout the world May 23 in issuing a call to action on the environment and releasing a list of... read»
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced on May 8 the members of a newly created federal advisory committee who will provide... read»
With evidence mounting that extreme droughts and floods are on the rise due to global warming, legislation introduced in Congress is... read»
The Sacramento Chapter of the Environmental Water Resources Institute (EWRI) will host a symposium March 7 on climate change and how it is... read»

Latest Regulatory Updates

Confronting Climate Change: An early analysis of water and wastewater adaptation costs read more»
This policy paper is the second in a series of reports on how climate change will create opportunities for specific sectors of the business... read more»