Glossary

“Attainment” status for a pollutant means that the Air District meets the standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or California Environmental Protection Agency.

A state law requiring state and local agencies to assess the environmental impacts of a proposed private or public project they undertake or permit. If a proposed activity has the potential for a significant adverse environmental impact, an environmental impact report must be prepared and certified as to its adequacy before action can be taken on the proposed project.

A climate action plan is a planning document that identifies ways in which the community and county can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). There is international concern that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere are changing the climate in ways detrimental to our social and economic well-being.

Addressing historical inequities suffered by people of color, allowing everyone to fairly share the same benefits and burdens from climate solutions and attain full and equal access to opportunities regardless of one’s background and identity.

Looks at greenhouse gas emissions caused by all activities within a city's geographic boundary. Typical sectors include residential, commercial, and industrial energy use, transportation, off-road equipment, waste generation, and energy associated with water delivery and treatment.

The controlled process of breaking down plant trimmings and kitchen scraps into a dark-colored, sweet-smelling soil amendment that adds nutrients to the soil.

Moving away from energy systems that produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions

An ecological community of interdependent plant and animal species and their physical environment.

Weather that is much hotter than average for a particular time and place—and sometimes more humid, too.

A long range policy document to guide land use decisions about physical, economic, and environmental growth. California state law requires counties and cities to have a General Plan which contains seven elements: Land Use; Transportation; Housing; Open Space; Conservation; Safety and Noise. County general plans cover unincorporated areas.

Sustainable or "green" building is a holistic approach to design, construction, and demolition that minimizes the building’s impact on the environment, the occupants, and the community.

The trapping and build-up of heat in the atmosphere near the Earth’s surface is often called the “greenhouse effect”. Some of the heat flowing back toward space from the Earth's surface is absorbed by greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and then reradiated back toward the Earths surface. As the atmospheric concentrations of these gases rise, the amount of heat reradiating back to the Earth’s surface increases as well, resulting in global temperature increases.

Gases, including water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) that trap heat in the atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases. Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities. GHGs influence climate change though the greenhouse effect (see above).

The potential for movement and the ability to get from one place to another using one or more modes of transport to meet daily needs.

A change from one form of transportation to another.

Cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere.

A discriminatory practice in which services are withheld from potential customers who reside in neighborhoods classified as 'hazardous' to investment; typically in neighborhoods with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minorities, and low-income residents.

An increase in the level of the world’s oceans due to the effects of global warming.

The presence of institutional and structural racism. Institutional racism occurs within institutions, like City and County governments, and involves unjust policies, practices, procedures, and outcomes that work better for White people than people of color, whether intentional or not. Structural racism is racial inequities across institutions, policies, social structures, history, and culture.

A key measure of overall street and highway use. Reducing vehicle miles traveled is often a major objective in efforts to reduce vehicular congestion and achieve regional air quality goals.