2030 Climate Action Plan

The 2030 Community Climate Action Plan and Adaptation Strategies (CAP) describes the process the City will embark on to both reduce our impact on the environment and increase our resilience against the impacts of the climate crisis. The CAP was adopted on September 5, 2023 and outlines the City’s vision through 2030.

• For current projects and progress: CAP Implementation Report
• To view the full CAP document: see attached file

Development

The original 2011 Climate Action Plan (2011 CAP) was adopted in December 2011 with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15% relative to 2005 levels. With the help of residents and community-based organizations, we were able to complete all of the high-priority projects and all but one of the low-priority projects. By the end of the 2011 CAP timeline in 2020, we had exceeded the goal, reaching a 20% reduction in emissions — reducing more than 27,000 metric tons of polluting carbon dioxide.

Building on this work, the City set out to develop a new CAP to bring us closer to our goal of net-zero emissions by 2045.

• September 5, 2023 — The revised 2030 CAP was presented to the City Council and approved.
• July 2023 — The revised Draft 2030 CAP was presented a second time to the Planning Commission.
• April 2023 — The revised Draft 2030 CAP was presented a second time to the Public Works & Transportation Commission.
• April 2022 — The Draft 2030 CAP was presented for a study session reading at the Planning Commission.
• March 2022 — The Draft 2030 CAP, developed with the support of Climate Resilient Communities and SMC RICAPS, was presented for the first time at the Public Works & Transportation Commission.
• 2020-2021 — The City conducted an online survey to solicit further input.
• 2019-2020 — Climate Resilience Communities in partnership with the EPA Climate Change Community Team sought out community input and developed a Community-Based Vulnerability Planning Report.
• November 2019 — The City Council directed staff to partner with the Institute for Local Government to leverage resources to update the 2011 CAP (Res. 5185).
• November 2017 — The California Air Resources Board (CARB) released guidelines for reaching the statewide target.
• September 2016 — The state passes SB32, requiring that greenhouse gas emissions statewide must be reduced to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.