August 23, 2022
This month, Mayor Todd Gloria signed the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) update, which will guide many aspects of City policy and operations toward meeting an ambitious new emission-reduction target.
The Mayor’s CAP update puts San Diego at the forefront of climate action nationwide, setting an aggressive target of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035. In order to achieve these reductions, the plan calls for the City to:
- Phase out 90% of fossil fuel use in buildings by 2035 through electrification, appliance swaps, and other emerging technologies, improving efficiency and indoor air quality;
- Work with San Diego Community Power to offer 100% renewable electricity for all customers in San Diego by 2030;
- Plan for and invest in a mobility network that shifts 50% of all trips to walking, biking or transit and reduces the overall need for vehicle use by 2035;
- Support and accelerate the transition from combustion to electric vehicles, to account for at least 25% of light-duty vehicle miles traveled by 2035;
- Reduce waste production and divert 90% of waste away from the landfill by 2035;
- Restore 700 acres of wetlands and related habitats to promote carbon storage and ecosystem health; and
- Achieve 35% urban tree canopy coverage by 2035 by planting and maintaining tens of thousands of trees, focused first on underserved communities that are vulnerable to extreme heat.