I’ve lived in Oakland for much of my life, and for nearly all of Jerry Brown’s time as Mayor. One of  former  Mayor Brown’s signature projects was to reinvent a blighted Downtown Oakland to a desirable, urban environment that would attract at least 10,000 residents with upscale housing and attractions. He called it the “10K” plan. In 2000, it seemed a tall order designed to sound good in a campaign, but quickly forgotten. In 2011, the many new condos, fancy restaurants and top-flight nightclubs have become a reality, and reportedly Brown’s 10,000 goal was surpassed.

I was recently at a conference called by Governor Brown which was all about his newest big number-driven goal: How to develop 12,000 megawatts of locally-sited renewable energy projects in California by 2020. As in Oakland, he’s almost starting from scratch, as local renewable generation to date is nowhere near that goal. While some businesses and homeowners have gone solar, it’s going to take some very large urban and suburban renewable projects to reach 12,000 by 2020. The question on the minds of conference participants was not whether or not to do this.It was made clear that the decision was already made by the Governor, who opened the conference with a keynote address that made it clear he’s determined to hit 12K.

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By Rosemary Ahtuangaruak

As an Inupiat who lives on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, I live a traditional lifestyle — hunting, fishing, whaling, gathering, and sharing our traditional way of life as our elders taught me. It is my duty to ensure the lifestyle that was passed down throughout generations continues in the face of multiple threats, including increased shipping.

As sea ice continues to recede in the Arctic, we are seeing an increase in the vessels that travel through our ocean. These ships can harm the marine environment with increased noise and pollution. Currently, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is developing a mandatory set of regulations for vessels traveling in Arctic waters. However, they are doing it with little input from the people who will be most impacted by increased shipping.

Indigenous peoples who live a traditional way of life have an inherent right to make decisions about regulations that will impact us. I am calling on the U.S. delegation to the IMO, who has an obligation to consult with Tribes, to guarantee our concerns are addressed.