Part 5URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

Section § 71400

Explanation

This section outlines the goals of California's Legislature to address the urban heat island effect, which makes cities hotter than surrounding areas. The California Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with collaborating on heat reduction strategies like planting trees, implementing cool roofs, and using sustainable or cool pavements.

The agency also needs to define and measure this heat effect so cities can set targets to reduce it.

The Department of Transportation will work with the agency on new pavement technologies and establish standards for using these technologies to tackle the urban heat issue.

(a)CA Public Resources Code § 71400(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that all of the following shall occur:
(1)CA Public Resources Code § 71400(a)(1) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall work with its partners on the Climate Action Team to develop heat reduction strategies that include urban forestry, cool roofs, and sustainable or cool pavements.
(2)CA Public Resources Code § 71400(a)(2) The California Environmental Protection Agency shall develop a definition for the urban heat island effect. The definition shall include the extent and severity of an urban heat island effect index for California cities such that the cities can have a quantifiable goal for heat reduction.
(3)CA Public Resources Code § 71400(a)(3) In support of this effort, the Department of Transportation shall work with the California Environmental Protection Agency and other stakeholders on sustainable or cool pavement technologies and research.
(b)CA Public Resources Code § 71400(b) Upon completion of a definition for an urban heat island effect index, the Department of Transportation shall develop a standard specification for sustainable or cool pavements that can be used to reduce the urban heat island effect index.
urban heat island effect heat reduction strategies urban forestry cool roofs sustainable pavements cool pavements California Environmental Protection Agency Climate Action Team Department of Transportation pavement technologies urban heat measurement heat effect index quantifiable heat reduction goals urban cooling strategies environmental collaboration
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 667, Sec. 3. (AB 296) Effective January 1, 2013.)