San Diego City Council voted 8-0 Aug. 2 to support an update of the\u00a0City\u2019s Climate Action Plan.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Chris Cate was absent from the vote.<\/p>\n
The update formalizes the City\u2019s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2035. It also reinforces the City\u2019s standing as a statewide and national climate leader.<\/p>\n
One hundred percent renewable energy means getting all energy from renewable resources \u2013 sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat \u2013 to be used for electricity, heating, cooling and transport.<\/p>\n
Net zero applies to bringing global greenhouse gas emissions from human activity into balance with emissions reductions. At net zero, carbon dioxide emissions are still generated, but an equal amount of carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere as it is released into it, resulting in a zero increase in net emissions.<\/p>\n
\u201cYears of delay and disinvestment have left San Diegans ill-prepared for climate impacts like pollution, deadly heat waves, wildfires, and droughts,\u201d said the Climate Action Campaign, a nonprofit with a mission to stop the climate crisis, in a statement before the City Council meeting. \u201cThe City can safeguard our health and safety by making sure that this plan is implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAchieving the CAP goals requires a shift in how we power our buildings, move around the City, reduce our reliance on imported water and expand our tree canopy and wetlands,\u201d said District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava representing La Jolla who chairs the Council\u2019s Environment Committee. \u201cThere is a lot of work ahead of us. Climate action in the City is clearly already underway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added LaCava, \u201cWe have an aggressive work plan in the months ahead, not just the implementation plan itself, but the department work plans and the administrative regulations. Success in meeting our new CAP goals will have to come from every City department. As a City we will track progress, we will meet our targets.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis CAP is a landmark for our City,\u201d said Council President Sean Elo-Rivera. \u2018It\u2019s something that other cities in the country will model their CAPs off of. I can\u2019t emphasize how significant our commitment to zero emissions is. What we hope will be different this time is whether or not we hit the goals that are being set.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Elo-Rivera, \u201cI\u2019d like to fast-forward to what San Diego would be like if we meet these goals. We would have healthy indoor air in every home. We\u2019d have safe and efficient mobility options in every neighborhood. We\u2019d have food and water security. We\u2019d have abundant trees and plant life and clean air. With those ideas in mind, we have every reason to work as hard as possible to achieve those goals.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know that climate change is happening across the world,\u201d said District 2 Councilmember Dr. Jennifer Campbell. \u201cAnd I\u2019m proud that our City has taken bold action by adopting updated goals and strategies to help combat the effect of climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Let us continue, onward and forward, with helping our planet recover from climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n