Environment

Board of Supervisors Adopt Climate Action Plan

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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a new County Climate Action Plan Wednesday.

The adopted plan is designed to cut greenhouse gases in the County’s unincorporated communities and County facilities and properties to meet state greenhouse gas reduction targets in 2020 and 2030. The County is on track to meet the 2020 targets.

The plan was written to meet the 2020 and 2030 targets through actions that balance environmental, economic and community interests, while taking into account the unincorporated County’s suburban, semi-rural and rural character.

The adopted plan includes 11 strategies and 26 measures to cut greenhouse gases. Examples of measures that reduce the most greenhouse gas include: encouraging the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on existing homes to generate electricity, increasing renewable energy overall, diverting more trash away from landfills, and developing a Local Direct Investment Program.

The board considered a Climate Action Plan that included a staff recommendation and options that meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets. The board adopted the Modified Option Three.

The approved plan includes increasing the rate of trash diverted away from landfills to 80 percent by 2030, reaching 90 percent renewable energy by 2030, and investing directly into programs that would cut greenhouse gas emissions. Those programs could include conserving grasslands, improving forest management and weatherizing homes.

The adopted Climate Action Plan was created with input from local residents and more than 50 diverse stakeholder groups, including environmental, business and community organizations, collected in more than 100 public workshops, meetings and events.

The County released a draft Climate Action Plan for public review and comment last August.

Click here to watch a video of the Board of Supervisors meeting.

 

 

Gig Conaughton is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact