Government has traditionally had difficulty seeing its regulations apply to itself, not difficult to understand why, but it is becoming increasingly important that they become less difficult as the also increasing transparency around public action means their credibility stands more on what they do than what they say.
Editorial: Greener government
State to grade itself on climate effort
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, June 4, 2007
California has long been a leader in energy conservation and climate initiatives -- especially when those policies fall largely on the private sector.
When it comes to ensuring that state agencies are upholding the highest environmental principles, though, the picture is more muddled.
Some agencies operate out of extremely efficient buildings, and encourage employees to bike, carpool or take transit to reduce pollution. Others operate with an enormous carbon footprint -- with fleets of dirty, gas-guzzling vehicles or leased buildings that demand loads of electricity.
As noted on this page in March, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers need to make sure that state agencies meet their obligations under California's laws to reduce greenhouse gases. The credibility of California's laws demands that state agencies meet targets for reducing pollution, just as private industries must do.
Apparently, the message found a receptive audience in California's Legislature. Two weeks ago, a Senate budget subcommittee approved a trailer bill that requires state agencies to prepare biannual "report cards" on their efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and meet their responsibilities under the governor's Climate Action Team Report.
