FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 2, 2022

CONTACT:
MayorPress@sandiego.gov

SAN DIEGO Furthering his commitment to climate leadership, Mayor Todd Gloria today will present the Citys landmark Climate Action Plan (CAP) update to the City Council for consideration. If approved, the updated CAP will guide many aspects of City policy and operations moving forward.

The window to reverse the dangerous trends of climate change is rapidly closing, and this moment demands aggressive action, said Mayor Todd Gloria. Implementing this more ambitious plan wont be easy, but the financial cost and human consequences of inaction are almost unimaginable. We must act now.

Released in November for public review and ongoing input, the Mayors CAP update puts San Diego at the forefront of climate action nationwide, setting an ambitious target of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035. The plan reflects prioritization of equity and the Citys Climate Equity Index, which evaluates relative access to opportunity and community vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, as well as a Climate Equity Fund that is dedicated to climate investments in historically underserved communities.

There is no time to wait to take climate action. Thankfully, by including the voices and concerns of the people who have suffered the most under climate inequity, our Climate Action Plan will ensure our City does our part for the global community while working toward our goal of providing every San Diegan the clean and healthy community they deserve, said City Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, who represents District 9. I'd like to express my gratitude to all the advocates and residents who worked to ensure the City's landmark climate policy reflects the priorities of the community. Now more than ever, the City is positioned to bring forth a sustainable future for all by strengthening its commitment to greater tree canopy, safer streets, cleaner air, and healthier neighborhoods.

Since the draft plans release, the City has gathered extensive public feedback, developed an analysis of staffing needs, incorporated a review of Climate Action Plan consistency into backup materials for all items coming to hearing of the City Council and begun work on the follow-up implementation steps as laid out in the City Auditors CAP audit. Additionally, the City has drafted consistency regulations for the implementation of the CAP by all future developments, which will be coming forward as a companion item tomorrow at Council. The draft CAP is available for review at sandiego.gov/sustainability/climate-action-plan.

Climate action cannot wait. The 2022 Climate Action Plan remains a model for the country; achieving the CAPs ambitious goals will produce a sustainable future for San Diegans, said City Councilmember Joe LaCava, who represents District 1 and chairs the Councils Environment Committee. The Climate Action Plan update is only the beginning. I applaud the Mayors leadership in already pivoting the city toward climate action and a commitment to document a full implementation plan by February 2023.

Adoption of the CAP update will be followed by extensive, ongoing implementation and reporting. A complete implementation plan will be drafted before next years budget proposal, and each department responsible for CAP actions will be required to provide annual work plans to show how they will carry out the plans identified strategies. Work on the implementation plan is already underway and will ramp up as the CAP itself is adopted.

San Diegans know firsthand how devastating unchecked climate change has been for our community from raging wildfires to rising sea levels, coastal erosion and heat waves, said U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. As a millennial, this issue is personal, because my generation and our most vulnerable populations are going to be living with the consequences of these decisions longer than most. The climate crisis requires leadership and mobilization at every level of government, so Im thankful the City of San Diego has put together an updated Climate Action Plan that reflects community feedback and puts our city on a path to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

As an early CAP implementation step, the City has prepared a Municipal Energy Implementation Plan and an accompanying policy, the Zero Emissions Municipal Buildings & Operations Policy (ZEMBOP). Both are designed to push the City toward its goal of zero emissions municipal facilities and a nearly all-electric vehicle fleet by 2035.

The climate crisis is here and its important we take meaningful action to reduce pollution, invest in green technologies, and safeguard our communities against extreme weather, said U.S. Congressman Juan Vargas. Im proud to support Mayor Glorias work to address climate change and will continue to fight for strong climate change provisions in Congress.

The City has more than 400 municipal facilities burning natural gas to heat water and indoor spaces, and over 4,000 fleet vehicles on the road each day. The Plan outlines GHG-reduction opportunities among City assets, and describes specific projects, programs and policies including ZEMBOP that will enable the City to adhere to the municipal targets and timelines in the updated CAP. This will allow the City to lead by example while improving facilities for the benefit of employees and the public.

From worsening drought and heat waves to more extreme wildfires, San Diegans are seeing the effects of the climate crisis and know we must do more to make our region a sustainable, healthy place to live and work, said U.S. Congressman Mike Levin. Im very encouraged to see San Diegos latest Climate Action Plan include a strong commitment to lower greenhouse gas emissions with environmental justice and clean energy jobs at its core. I deeply appreciate the work that Mayor Gloria, the Environment Committee and countless local stakeholders have put into developing this plan to help protect our planet for future generations.

To learn more about the Citys climate-related efforts, visit sandiego.gov/climatefuture.

This updated Climate Action Plan for San Diego marks a significant step toward reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, improving public transit and safer alternative transportation making the city a cleaner and healthier place to live in the process, said Assemblymember Chris Ward. From wildfires to sea level rise, the science is clear that we must act now to mitigate the effects of climate change and preserve California for future generations to come.

Were already seeing the impacts of climate change in our communities and we must act now at all levels of government to combat it, said Nathan Fletcher, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. The Citys updated Climate Action Plan is a critical part of our regional response to the climate emergency, including alignment with our Regional Decarbonization Framework. I look forward to working with the City and region to implement and achieve our climate goals."

I commend the Citys leadership for ensuring its CAP addresses advancing sustainability while recognizing that environmental justice communities like Barrio Logan and San Ysidro need prioritization for funding and action, said County Supervisor Nora Vargas, Chair of the San Diego Air Pollution Control District. Whether it is reducing air quality impacts, increasing access to mobility choices, decarbonizing our buildings, or shifting land uses, we need clear goals like those set in the Citys CAP to continue to provide the best opportunities for our residents. Collectively, we must continue to lead and work together to have the most positive effect in fighting the climate crisis.

Climate change from human-made carbon emissions is already bringing more and deadlier wildfires, the hottest temperatures ever recorded in some parts of the world, and rising sea levels as polar ice caps melt. In San Diego County, as a desert-coastal region, we are particularly vulnerable to the devastation that climate change threatens, said County Supervisor Lawson-Remer. With this commitment to net zero emissions by 2035, the City of San Diego is demonstrating strong leadership, aligning with our emerging Regional Decarbonization Framework, and setting the stage for our entire County to lead on climate action.

Our Department is looking forward to working both internally and externally to bring the Mayor's vision to life, said Shelby Busó, the Citys Chief Sustainability Officer. The climate action goals outlined in our plan are ambitious yet necessary to create a thriving, sustainable San Diego for everyone.

My message has been clear from the beginning: no fossil fuel worker can be left behind in any transition to renewable energy. The Climate Action Plan Review Committee listened to those concerns and the CAP update now has protections for workers while taking concrete and measurable steps to protect our environment for future generations, said Nate Fairman, Business Manager at IBEW Local Union 465, which represents 2,900 Union Utility Workers in San Diego and Imperial Counties. I applaud the City and the Mayor for being proactive and having the courage to bring all the stakeholders together to ensure that no worker is left behind as we work to address climate change.

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