The Local Planning Section in the Sustainable Transportation and Communities Division (STCD) is seeking applicants for an Air Pollution Specialist to carry out assignments related to the activities described below with a positive attitude, a high degree of initiative, and originality.
The State’s ability to meet increasingly stringent air quality standards and carbon neutrality depends to a large extent on accelerating the transition to zero-emission transportation and buildings; shaping the emergence of new mobility options to meet community needs; and integrating land use, housing, and transportation to reduce the number and length of auto trips. How we build communities, including the mobility options people use to get around, drives emissions, health outcomes, access to opportunity, and ultimately quality of life.
While the State has taken on a number of strategies to reduce emissions and build sustainable communities, State action alone will not be sufficient to achieve the magnitude and pace of transformation needed to meet the State’s air quality and climate goals. The 2022 Scoping Plan Update discusses the relationship between local government actions and achievement of the State’s long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals and recommends actions to support local governments in their efforts to reduce GHG emissions. CARB plays an important role in providing communities with guidance and support in this endeavor.
Within this context, the Local Planning Section in STCD is responsible for:
- Developing and implementing initiatives to identify and address barriers to zero-emission mobility in local communities, with a strong focus on low-income and disadvantaged communities.
- Overseeing investments to expand mobility choices in disadvantaged communities to ensure they meet programmatic and statutory requirements.
- Assessing transportation and land use development projects in order to ensure they meet applicable statutory requirements, are consistent with sustainable community strategies and the State’s air quality and climate goals, and promote environmental leadership;
- Providing guidance to local agencies on best practices for mitigating GHG and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) impacts of land use development projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including the development of mitigation banks and exchanges that can provide sustainable sources of funding for community mobility projects;
- Working with CARB staff and other local and State agencies to provide guidance in implementing CEQA and related statutes to ensure projects further the State’s air quality and climate goals.
- Staying up to date on local and regional actions related to transportation and land use development and working to improve alignment between local and regional land use and transportation planning and projects.