By Peter St. Clair, Legislation ChairIf you have read Frank Landis’ articles on conservation andland use policy you have heard a lot about Greenhouse Gasses (GHG) and Climate Action Plans (CAP). Carbon dioxide is the most well-known GHG. Others which are less prevalent but which contribute far more to climate change are methane and nitrous oxide. They come from industrial production but also from grazing animals. The obvious dilemma in GHG management is the critical importance of carbon dioxide to plants. It was hoped that rising CO2 levels would spur greater growth of plants, thus soaking up more CO2 and ameliorating atmospheric warming and climate change. Scientists are no longer sure this will happen. Warming means less atmospheric water and more areas of the world drying up. Simultaneously, nations in the tropics are deforesting at higher rates than expected.California has a strict law—AB 32 (2006) that by 2035 mandates a reduction in GHG emissions to levels that existed before 1990.As a result, the state has asked local government (cities and counties) to create a step by step plan how they will achieve GHG reductions. Most governments responded by creating Climate Action Plans. The cities in San Diego have them. The County is trying to create one but has been unable to come up with a plan that the courts believe to be effective and enforceable.