Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region

Climate Action Planning Progress
in the San Diego Region
To All San Diegans,
Through extensive collaboration, the San Diego region has made marked improvements in
the area of climate change with planning, cooperation and leadership. These accomplishments
include:
• All 19 local governments have performed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, and more
than half have developed, or are working on, a climate action plan to reduce those emissions
and deal with the local risks posed by climate change
• Regional efforts to manage risks we face such as diminishing water supplies and rising sea
levels
• Unprecedented collaboration between local government, philanthropy, business,
and nonprofits
The recent public engagement and priority-setting process, Our Greater San Diego Vision,
demonstrated that residents throughout our region continue to feel a passionate connection
to natural and open spaces, and consider clean air, water availability and water quality as
important issues. However, these amenities are all threatened by climate change impacts, and
their importance to the region justifies an ongoing call to action to mitigate those impacts – a call
which The San Diego Foundation Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement is committed to
heeding through continued philanthropic leadership on this issue.
This report serves as a marker of our region’s progress in planning for climate change, and
illustrates much collaborative success that is cause for celebration. However, there is still work to
be done. Climate action planning is just the beginning, and looking ahead, cities must continue to
work together to reach the goals they have committed to in these plans, and integrate them with
other local and regional policies that drive how our region lives, works, and plays. We hope these
findings inspire us all to hold steadfast on our course to protect our great region.
Sincerely,
Lisa Bicker
Emily Young, PhD
Bob Kelly
Chair, The Climate Initiative
The San Diego Foundation
Senior Director, Environment Program
The San Diego Foundation
President & CEO,
The San Diego Foundation
Table of Contents
02
Acknowledgments
03
Executive Summary
04
Introduction
05
Federal, State, and Local Policy Context
State Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and
Prepare for Climate Change
Regional Leaders and Collaboration in Addressing Climate Change
10
Methodology
12
Findings
Local Government
Public Agencies
Collaboration and Partnerships
21
Looking Ahead
Federal Policies and Funding Initiatives
2 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
Acknowledgements
This report and other projects of the Climate Initiative would not be possible without
ongoing guidance from volunteers on The San Diego Foundation’s Climate Initiative
Advisory Committee as well as the generous support from corporate partners such
as Bank of America and The Qualcomm Foundation, as well as contributions from the
Beyster Family Fund II, Blasker-Miah Rose Fund, Engel Family Fund, Hattie Ettinger
Conservation Fund, Hervey Family Fund, Kresge Foundation, Orca Fund, Platt/Whitelaw
Architects, Inc., TSX Group, and Zell Family Foundation, as well as other individual and
anonymous donors.
This report was prepared by The San Diego Foundation
for the Climate Collaborative, to highlight the efforts
of local governments and public agencies that are
working together to address and prepare for climate
change. Since 2006, The San Diego Foundation’s
Climate Initiative has supported such efforts in order
to deepen community awareness about the potential
local impacts of climate change and spur regional
action to reduce polluting emissions. Over the next few
years, The San Diego Foundation will continue to work
with local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and
the community to advance regional efforts that curb
emissions and promote preparedness for climate change,
in order to avoid some of its most harmful effects. The
Climate Initiative is a program of The Foundation’s Malin
Burnham Center for Civic Engagement. This Center serves
as a hub of civic leadership by focusing on educating
and inspiring people to participate in addressing critical
community issues through research, public dialogue and
focused action to advance the common good. For more
information about The Foundation’s Climate Initiative,
visit www.sdfoundation.org/CivicLeadership/Programs/
Environment/Climate.aspx
The Climate Collaborative was established in
2012 among public entities working with private
organizations to develop and implement plans, policies
and programs that address and prepare for climate
change in the San Diego region. Launched with
investments by San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) Local
Government Partnerships Program, current participation
includes the cities of Chula Vista and San Diego, County
of San Diego, Port of San Diego, San Diego Association
of Governments (SANDAG), SDG&E, The San Diego
Foundation and the University of San Diego. For more
information about the Climate Collaborative, visit http://
www.sdclimatecollaborative.org.
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 3
Executive Summary
The San Diego region is world-renowned for its great outdoors and quality of life.
However, our region is changing and growing, with the population projected to
grow by 50% within four decades. In a recent survey, area residents expressed
concern about the future of our water supply, open space, air quality, transportation
options, and job opportunities. These concerns may become more pronounced as
climate change impacts our region. If current trends continue and climate action is
not a priority at each level of government, expected outcomes include a hotter and
drier climate, wildfires will be more frequent and intense, sea level will rise by 12-18
inches, and our water shortage will become much more severe by 2050 as a result of
climate change.
This report assesses the progress of local action on climate change in the San Diego
region, by comparing local government action to widely accepted milestones of
climate action planning. An unprecedented number of local governments and public
agencies in the region are working together with philanthropy, nonprofits, business
and communities to address climate change, and ensure the ongoing vitality of our
economy and environment. Some major accomplishments include:
• All 19 local governments (18 cities and the County of San Diego) have
performed greenhouse gas emissions inventories
• More than half of these local governments are working on or have adopted a
Climate Action Plan
• Several cities have integrated “adaptation” planning into their planning efforts
to minimize harmful impacts of climate change in their community
There are several regional public agencies addressing climate change as well,
including the Port of San Diego, San Diego County Water Authority, San Diego
Association of Governments (SANDAG), the San Diego Airport Authority, and the
Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.
This broad collaboration to address climate change has recently been formalized
through the creation of the Climate Collaborative. This collaborative is a regional
forum for public agencies to share expertise and leverage resources to facilitate
climate action planning. By partnering with philanthropic foundations, academia,
nonprofit organizations, and business and community leaders, these agencies
work to inspire regional leadership and ensure a vibrant economy and healthy
environment. This collaboration illustrates recognition that we will not reach
individual agency or regional goals to address climate change if we do not work
together and invest today in a strong economy and healthy environment.
4 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
Introduction
Throughout San Diego County, people have a long and rich history of local
community pride and protection of our region’s clean air and water, natural lands
and quality of life. But our region faces challenges, like all others throughout the
world, from climate change and its impact on our natural resources and the health
and well-being of our people and our future generations. These threats include
dwindling local water supplies, increased fire risks, threats to human health, and the
loss of jobs.
The good news is that many regions and localities are stepping up to this challenge
to create innovative policies, plans and programs to enhance the preparedness of
communities and address climate change at the community level. In fact, in the San
Diego region, an unprecedented number of local governments and public agencies
are coming together to address climate change and protect the region’s spectacular
natural resources and enviable quality of life.
This document, Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region, was
prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative. The Climate
Collaborative is a regional forum for public agencies to share expertise, leverage
resources, and partner with private institutions to facilitate climate action planning
and projects. The Climate Collaborative was officially launched in 2012 with support
from San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDG&E) Local Government Partnerships Program
and participation from the Cities of Chula Vista and San Diego, County of San Diego,
Port of San Diego, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), The San
Diego Foundation and the University of San Diego.
This report is an assessment of local climate action planning in the San Diego region.
It measures progress of local governments to plan for climate change, both to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the local impacts of climate change, by
comparing action to accepted milestones of climate action planning. The report
also highlights efforts underway by major public agencies in the region to address
climate change, and identifies some key collaborative projects underway between
government, business, and communities to address climate change in a
coordinated manner.
Given the key milestones reached in climate action planning in the San Diego
region to date, and the significant commitment from local governments and public
agencies as highlighted throughout this report, the San Diego region can serve as
a model for other regions in collaborating to address the most pressing potential
impacts of climate change, especially to complement the State of California’s
landmark climate change legislation and relevant federal programs and investments.
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 5
Federal, State and Local
Policy Context
Federal, state and local governments are all crucial
in addressing issues that affect our quality of life and
impact our ability to live safe and healthy lives. In terms
of climate change, each level of government serves a
unique role to influence the San Diego region’s ability to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the
potential impacts from climate change on the region.
The following information highlights some of the most
significant policies to address climate change at each
level of government in recent years, and provides the
context for understanding what role local governments in
the San Diego region are playing.
6 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
Federal Policies and Funding Initiatives
Despite there being no comprehensive federal legislation on climate change, there are several key policy
and funding initiatives from the Federal government that have supported climate change action in the
United States. One that has had significant impact in the San Diego region is the 2009 American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which designated approximately $85 billion for energy and transportation
related programs in the green economy.1 One result of this funding with significant local impact is the
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program that funds local and state governments,
among other entities, for energy efficiency and conservation programs and projects. The purpose of these
funds is to reduce fossil fuel emissions, decrease the total energy use, improve energy efficiency, and create
and retain jobs.2
Figure 1: Allocation of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Funding in San Diego County3
Carlsbad
$938,900
National City
Chula Vista
$1,974,300
Coronado
$125,762
Poway
Del Mar
$25,000
San Diego
$12,541,700
El Cajon
$881,100
The San Diego County
$5,140,200
Encinitas
$554,200
San Marcos
$738,800
Santee
$480,300
Escondido
$1,273,300
Oceanside
$561,700
$1,571,100
$212,800
Imperial Beach
$145,393
Solana Beach
$70,365
La Mesa
$506,200
Vista
$849,300
Lemon Grove
$132,374
TOTAL
1
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Clean_Economy_Report_Web.pdf p10
2
http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/arra/eecbg/index.php
3
http://energycenter.org/index.php/public-affairs/federal-legislation/energy-efficiency-and-conservation-block-grants-eecbg
$28,722,794
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 7
A few examples of how EECBG funding was used in San Diego are outlined below:
City of San Diego4
• Street light fixture retrofits
• Climate mitigation and
adaptation planning
Chula Vista5
• Solar installations on
municipal buildings
• Home and business energy
efficiency and solar retrofits
Oceanside6
• City Hall retrofit
• Traffic management systems
Also significant is the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions
as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act, including issuance of the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse
Gases Rule. This Rule requires large sources to report greenhouse gas data, in order to help the federal
government better understand where greenhouse gas emissions are coming from and inform policy,
business, and regulatory decisions.7
Another federal policy with a significant impact on the San Diego region is Executive Order 13514. This
Executive Order, signed by President Obama in 2009, requires Federal agencies to set goals in terms of
increasing energy efficiency, conserving water, and reducing waste, among other sustainability measures.8
Given the important role that federal agencies, especially the U.S. Navy, play in our community and
economy, this Order has resulted in an increase in investments and installations of clean energy, energy
efficiency, and water efficient technologies in our region. To complement efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, Executive Order 13514 also established the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task
Force, and charged it with developing recommendations for the federal government to better prepare the
country for the impacts of climate change.9
The military has been a leader in addressing climate change to improve national
security, increase energy independence, and prepare for likely climate change
impacts such as sea level rise and extreme weather events. For instance, the
Department of the Navy is working towards a goal of at least 40% of total energy
consumption being generated from alternative sources by 2020. Given one in
four jobs in the San Diego region are defense-related, Navy and Marine Corps
investments in energy and fuel efficiency, clean energy, are helping advance San
Diego’s burgeoning clean tech cluster and leading the nation toward a clean
energy economy.
http://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/energy/programsprojects/eecbg.shtml
http://www.chulavistaca.gov/MajorProjects/StimulusScorecard/PDFs/EECBGPropProjectsList.pdf
http://recovery-and-reinvestment-act.theblaze.com/l/171990/City-of-Oceanside-Energy-Efficiency-Planning-Retrofits-and-Transportation-Management-Center-Project
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html
4
5
6
7
The White House, http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-signs-an-Executive-Order-Focusedon-Federal-Leadership-in-Environmental-Energy-and-Economic-Performance
8
9
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ceq/2011_adaptation_progress_report.pdf
8 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
State Efforts to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and
Prepare for Climate Change
Within California, the passage of Assembly Bill
32 (AB 32), or the Global Warming Solutions Act
of 2006, was landmark legislation that created
statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals for
2020. A central element of this plan is California’s
emerging greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program,
which covers major sources of emissions in the
State such as refineries, power plants, industrial
facilities, and transportation fuels.10 The State has
also recognized that local governments will
be essential partners in reaching California’s
ambitious goals.
Subsequently, Senate Bill 97 (SB 97) developed
amendments to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) to align with AB 32’s goals.
Senate Bill 375 (SB 375) followed suit and in 2009
tasked the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to
“develop regional reduction targets for greenhouse
gas emissions, and [prompt] the creation of
regional plans to reduce emissions from vehicle
use throughout the state.”11 SB 375 is a tool that
regional planning agencies and local governments
in California can use to plan more sustainable
communities. Notably, the San Diego region was
the first in the State required to develop a plan to
meet regional emission reduction goals, which was
adopted in 2011.12
Additionally, recognizing that certain changes
from global warming are unavoidable, despite
global and national efforts to reduce emissions,
the State is also proactively preparing for the
impacts of climate change. In 2008, Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger directed development of
a “Climate Adaptation Strategy” through Executive
Order S-13-18 to identify California’s vulnerabilities
to climate change, especially sea level rise, and
plan accordingly.13
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/capandtrade.htm
10
Southern California Association of Governments. http://www.scag.ca.gov/sb375/index.htm
11
Learn more about SANDAG’s Sustainable Communities Strategy adopted for the San Diego region here
http://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=360&fuseaction=projects.detail
12
Office of Governor Edmund J. Brown, http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=11036
13
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 9
Regional Leaders and Collaboration in Addressing Climate Change
While efforts by the federal and state government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and impacts of
climate change are critical, local government is a key partner in addressing climate change because of their
unique authority and role in local communities. Indeed, a growing number of cities, counties and public
agencies across the country have recognized that many of the actions that are essential to addressing
climate change must ultimately be undertaken at the local level, for it is at this level that the impacts of
climate change will differ. For example, recent warming in the Southwest United States is among the most
rapid in the nation and well above the global average. The potential for increased droughts as a result of
this warming is especially a concern because the Southwest continues to lead the nation in population
growth. 14
Without significant climate action, the San Diego region will experience many
trends that threaten our quality of life, including:
•A hotter and drier climate
•Wildfires will be more frequent and
intense
•We will face a severe water shortage
•Native plant and animal species will
be lost forever
•Sea level will be 12-18 inches higher
•Public health will be at risk, especially
among our elderly and children
•We will not be able to meet our energy
needs
San Diego’s Changing Climate: A Regional Wake-Up Call, a Summary of the Focus 2050 Study
In addition to these risks faced by the region of a changing climate, other key reasons for local action
include economic benefits and community support for action. 15
A local opinion poll shows
that 72% of local residents believe
the San Diego region should lead
in California for setting goals to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The report Economic Vitality:
Clean Jobs in the San Diego Region
demonstrated that the region
is a fitting location for growth in the
green jobs sector, and is ranked
7th nationally for total green jobs.
14 “Global Climate Change Impacts in the U.S.” by the United States Global Change Research Program. http://globalchange.gov/images/cir/pdf/southwest.pdf
15 Reports assessing public opinions and the economic benefits of our region’s clean economy available at:
http://www.sdfoundation.org/CivicLeadership/Programs/Environment/ResearchReports.aspx
10 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
Methodology
The purpose of this report is to assess the progress of
local governments and government agencies toward
climate mitigation (reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions) and adaptation (reduction of vulnerabilities
to climate change impacts) in the San Diego region. For
purposes of this report, progress at the local government
level is gauged by using ICLEI-Local Governments
for Sustainability’s five milestones for climate action
planning. Both globally and nationally, ICLEI’s model has
been at the forefront of climate change mitigation and
adaptation strategies and is therefore the basis
for tracking local government progress in the
San Diego region.
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 11
Figure 2: ICLEI has five key milestones for climate mitigation
Greenhouse
Gas Inventory
Develop
Targets for
Reductions
Climate
Action Plan
Implement
Monitor
As climate change impacts are becoming more imminent, adaptation planning is increasingly important
and widely accepted as a long-term strategy to address climate change.
Figure 3: ICLEI also has five key milestones for climate adaptation
Conduct a
Climate Resiliency
Study
Set
Preparedness
Goals
Develop a
Climate
Preparedness
Plan
Publish &
Implement
Preparedness
Plan
Monitor &
Reevaluate
Resiliency
In order to measure progress of local government on meeting the milestones above, online research,
surveys, and interviews were conducted16 and combined with information gathered from greenhouse
gas inventories, climate action plans and collaborations from each of the 18 cities, the County and public
agencies throughout San Diego County. Using ICLEI’s milestones as a guide, progress of each entity in
planning for climate change impacts was tracked and compiled. This research initiated in 2007 and has
been continuously updated through September 2012.
Surveys and interviews were undertaken with staff from local governments and public agencies during summers of 2011 and 2012.
16
12 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
Findings
Local Government
Local governments in the San Diego region are engaged
in climate action planning at an unprecedented level.
Significant actions toward climate mitigation and
adaptation have occurred in recent years, and several
partnerships and collaborations have formed as a result.
All 19 local governments (18 cities and the County)
have performed greenhouse gas inventories and thus
completed the first step in climate action planning.
Furthermore, 14 of these local governments have
committed to climate action through signing the U.S.
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, becoming a
member of ICLEI, and/or becoming a member of the
Climate Registry. Finally, 11 of the 19 local governments
are working on or have adopted a climate action plan,
and Chula Vista and the City of San Diego have initiated
implementation and monitoring of their climate change
mitigation plans.
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 13
In addition to widespread efforts to measure and
initiate reduction of polluting emissions, several
cities and agencies have taken steps regarding
adaptation planning in the region. In 2010, Chula
Vista adopted a climate preparedness plan, one
of the first comprehensive municipal plans of
its kind in California, and the City has already
begun implementing it. The City of San Diego
is in the process of developing a preparedness
plan in conjunction with an update of its 2005
climate action plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. Additionally, in one of the nation’s first
multijurisdictional efforts involving a port, the cities
of Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National
City, and San Diego, along with the Port of San
Diego and several nonprofits and other government
agencies, have drafted strategies to address sea
level rise projections in 2050 and beyond for San
Diego Bay. (Figure 5 outlines progress to date by
local jurisdictions).
In addition to formal, adopted climate action plans,
there are other local policies and tools through
which local governments can also address climate
change. While not measured comprehensively
by analysis in this report, policy decisions can
influence building codes to reduce energy use
and emissions; general and community plans can
provide goals, objectives, policies, standards and/or
implementation measures in-line with the priorities
of the region while addressing required elements of
the plan. These other plans and policies represent
a major opportunity to address climate change by
incorporating elements that include an emissions
inventory, emission targets, enforceable greenhouse
gas emission control measures, and monitoring and
reporting requirements.
Partnering with Local Government
Through the Climate Initiative, The San Diego Foundation has invested more
than $1.7 million in research, public education, technical assistance, and
collaborative projects that can help governments and communities plan for a
changing climate. The Foundation launched this initiative in 2006 in recognition
that no one agency can tackle climate change alone, and includes government,
business, and nonprofits to catalyze comprehensive regional solutions to climate
change. The Climate Initiative relies on its Advisory Committee to evaluate
strategies for its successful implementation.
14 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
The level of involvement and the progress with climate action that has been made in the San Diego region
over the last five years is impressive. In 2007, local governments in Chula Vista, Del Mar, and San Diego were
the only local governments that had officially committed to addressing climate change. Notably, Chula
Vista and San Diego were the only local governments that had completed greenhouse gas inventories or
adopted a local climate action plan. The increase in commitment by local governments to address climate
change has grown over the past five years and will continue to grow with increased capacity and resources.
While inventories and action plans are critical first steps, implementation of action plans and regular
evaluation of progress are critical to advancing efforts to address climate change.
Figure 4: Map of San Diego County with Jurisdictions
Figures 2 & 3: ICLEI’s milestones for climate mitigation and adaptation correspond to Figure 5.
Greenhouse
Gas Inventory
Develop
Targets for
Reductions
Conduct a
Climate Resiliency
Study
Set
Preparedness
Goals
Climate
Action Plan
Develop a
Climate
Preparedness
Plan
Implement
Monitor
Publish &
Implement
Preparedness
Plan
Monitor &
Reevaluate
Resiliency
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 15
City of Chula Vista
City of San Diego
City of Encinitas
City of National City
City of Del Mar
County of San Diego
City of Solana Beach
City of Carlsbad
City of Coronado
City of Escondido
City of Imperial Beach
City of Santee
City of Vista
City of El Cajon
City of La Mesa
City of Lemon Grove
City of Oceanside
City of Poway
City of San Marcos
Adaptation**
Monitor
Implement
Adopted
Climate Action
Plan
Developing a
Climate Action
Plan
Develop
Targets for
Reductions
Complete
GHG
Inventory
Figure 5: Local Government Progress on Climate Mitigation and Adaptation
Total
(Out of 6)
x
x
x
x
x
x
6
x
x
x
x
x
x
6
x
x
x
x
x
5
x
x
x
x
x
5
x
3
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
3
x
2
x
x
x
3
2
2
x
2
x
x
2
x
x
2
x
1
x
1
x*
1
x
1
x
1
x
1
Figure 5 outlines each local government’s progress toward climate mitigation and adaptation according to
ICLEI’s milestones as of September 2012.
* Inventory complete, but report is still being developed
** Because adaptation is an emerging field and the milestones are more difficult to parse out for the purposes of this report, climate adaptation milestones are included
in a single metric for “adaptation” to denote local governments that have progressed in adaptation planning.
16 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
Public Agencies
While local governments play a major role, many public agencies in the San Diego region have jurisdiction
and/or influence over sectors or geographic areas that affect how climate change will impact our region.
Several regional public agencies also addressing climate change include the Port of San Diego, San Diego
County Water Authority, SANDAG, and the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. Several key
actions of public agencies in the region are highlighted in the following section.
The Port of San Diego is currently developing a Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan to prepare
for the impacts of climate change and present strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along the
tidelands managed by the Port District. This plan marks the first of its kind among Ports nationwide, and
includes strategies that focus on sea level rise, water reuse and conservation, beach erosion, and energy
demand. One important milestone of this plan is the Port Commission’s vote in 2012 to support a target to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by the year 2020 and an additional 25% by the year 2035, from a
baseline year of 2006.
The San Diego County Water Authority is also developing a Climate Action Plan to focus on measures to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts in the region, especially as they
affect water supply in the region. This plan is being developed in conjunction with the 2012 Regional
Water Facilities Optimization and Master Plan Update. Additionally, they are partnering with Scripps
Institution of Oceanography to study the impacts of climate change on local water supplies to ensure
infrastructure and services can accommodate the potential impacts of climate change. The findings will be
included in the Water Authority’s next update of the Urban Water Management Plan. The Water Authority
has also joined the Water Utility Climate Alliance, a forum for collaboration among ten of the nation’s
largest water providers.
The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve’s (TRNERR) Coastal Training Program (CTP) offers
climate change-focused professional and science-based trainings for coastal decision-makers such as
elected officials, local government staff, land use planners, regulatory personnel, and coastal managers
in the San Diego region. Additionally, CTP partnered with The San Diego Foundation and ICLEI-Local
Governments for Sustainability to deliver three stakeholder workshops to drive the development of the
Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategy for San Diego Bay. These workshops served as vehicles to build
collaboration among participants, increase understanding of climate adaptation and resilience, and
solicit critical feedback that informed the Adaptation Strategy. Because of their leadership in this area and
involvement in the Tijuana River Valley Recovery Team, TRNERR recently received a grant from NOAA’s
Coastal and Ocean Climate Applications (COCA) program to conduct a vulnerability assessment and
adaptation strategy for the Tijuana River Valley.
Additionally, the San Diego Regional Airport Authority signed a landmark agreement with the CA
State Attorney General’s Office to reduce the airport’s greenhouse gas emissions. This agreement
demonstrates the Airport Authority’s commitment to sustainability along with being one of the first major
airports in the country to adopt a comprehensive Sustainability Plan. The current remodel underway
at the Airport implements this commitment by providing electricity access to airplanes on the ground,
transitioning shuttles to electric alternative-fuel vehicles, and installing cool roofs and solar panels among
other efforts. This year, to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable practices and the importance of
transparency, San Diego International Airport became the first major airport in the nation to produce an
annual sustainability report through the Global Reporting Initiative.
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 17
SANDAG updated its Regional Energy Strategy in 2009 and developed a Regional Climate Action Strategy
in part to inform later development of the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Sustainable
Communities Strategy adopted in 2011. The RTP is one of the most significant tools available to the region
to reduce emissions, and the plan adopted in 2011 offers a significant number of strategies cities can work
together with SANDAG to implement. These regional energy and climate strategies also provided guidance
for the Energy Roadmap Program, a collaboration between SANDAG and SDG&E designed to assist local
jurisdictions in developing a customized framework for energy saving policies for the jurisdiction and
its constituents (Figure 6). The program launched in July 2010, and is based on the Sustainable Region
Program that SANDAG piloted from 2005 through 2009 with the cities of Carlsbad, Poway and Solana
Beach. To date, energy roadmaps have been initiated or completed for almost all 19 local governments in
the region.
Figure 6: SANDAG efforts to develop energy
roadmaps with local governments
Local Governments
Energy Roadmap
City of Chula Vista
Complete
City of Coronado
Complete
City of Encinitas
Complete
City of Escondido
Complete
City of Imperial Beach
Complete
City of National City
Complete
City of Oceanside
Complete
City of San Marcos
Complete
City of Santee
Complete
City of Vista
Complete
City of Carlsbad
In Process
City of Del Mar
In Process
City of El Cajon
In Process
City of La Mesa
In Process
County of San Diego
In Process
City of Lemon Grove
To begin in 2013
City of Poway
To begin in 2013
City of San Diego
To begin in 2013
City of Solana Beach
To begin in 2013
18 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
Collaboration and Partnerships
In addition to work by each individual local government and government agency, collaboration among
these groups and others to address climate change preparedness is important to leverage complementary
initiatives and save scarce resources through coordination. A few examples of collaborations and publicprivate partnerships underway in the San Diego region are listed below.
Climate Collaborative 17
The Climate Collaborative is a San Diego regional forum for public agencies to share expertise and leverage
resources to facilitate climate action planning. By partnering with academia, nonprofit organizations, and
business and community leaders, these agencies work to inspire regional leadership and ensure a vibrant
economy and healthy environment. The Collaborative does this to: (1) address and prevent the harmful
effects of climate change; (2) promote a high quality of life for the San Diego region; and (3) foster a green
and growing economy. This collaboration illustrates recognition that we will not reach individual agency or
regional goals to address climate change if we do not work together and invest today in a strong economy
and healthy environment.
17
www.sdclimatecollaborative.org
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 19
Sea Level Rise Adaptation Strategy for San Diego Bay 18
Supported by a grant from The San Diego Foundation’s Climate Initiative, this Sea Level Rise Adaptation
Strategy outlines ten recommended strategies to best manage the risks that sea level rise poses to the
economic, environmental and community resources around San Diego Bay. The report resulted from a yearlong collaborative process which engaged major stakeholders around the Bay, and was led by ICLEI-Local
Governments for Sustainability and a steering committee of representatives from the Airport Authority,
Port of San Diego and its five member cities. The report included a climate change vulnerability assessment
for San Diego Bay and ten broad recommendations for building resilience of community assets.
CleanTECH San Diego Streetlight Working Group 19
Streetlights typically consume 25% of a city’s electricity. The City of San Diego and CleanTECH San Diego
are co-leading the San Diego Streetlight Working Group with sponsorship from SDG&E’s Local Government
Energy Efficiency Program to retrofit existing streetlights throughout San Diego County with energy
efficient induction and LED technologies. This project is taking advantage of stimulus funding through
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Potential impacts of the streetlight retrofits include saving
taxpayers an estimated $10 million annually, reducing energy consumption by 40%, and creating up to 600
jobs through tax incentives for hiring businesses, among others. Currently, the County, 13 local cities, and
six public agencies are participating in this program and demonstrating the success of this collaboration.
San Diego Gas & Electric Local Government Partnerships 20
SDG&E has established several partnerships with local governments and government agencies to promote
energy efficiency, demand response and conservation programs, services and resources, and provide
energy education and outreach to their communities. Participation from five local governments, the
County, and several public agencies has allowed energy conservation and outreach efforts to reach a wider
audience and provided these groups with an important additional resource for climate action planning
throughout the region. SDG&E is currently renewing these partnerships for 2013-2014.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Project 21
Through this joint effort between ICLEI and local governments, 17 cities performed greenhouse gas
emissions inventories with funding from The San Diego Foundation’s Climate Initiative and Kaiser
Permanente. Given two other cities, Chula Vista and San Diego, had already completed inventories for their
jurisdictions, this resulted in all 19 local governments in our region having performed a baseline emissions
inventory. Complementing the completion of such inventories, a Regional Climate Protection Network
formed that convenes regularly and is designed to provide participating local governments and public
agencies with a regional forum for provision of ongoing training, technical assistance and networking in
order to advance planning in our region to reduce emissions and enhance resiliency to a changing climate.
http://www.icleiusa.org/climate_and_energy/Climate_Adaptation_Guidance/san-diego-bay-sea-level-rise-adaptation-strategy-1/san-diego-bay-sea-level-riseadaptation-strategy
18
http://www.cleantechsandiego.org/streetlight-working-group
19
For more information about SDG&E’s partners, please visit
http://www.sdge.com/our-commitment/energy-efficiency-partnership-programs/local-government-partnerships
20
http://www.sdfoundation.org/CivicLeadership/Programs/Environment/ResearchReports/GreenhouseGasEmissionsReports.aspx
21
20 Climate Action Planning Progress in the San Diego Region
The Integrated Regional Water Management Program 22
Aimed at securing long-term water supply reliability in the San Diego region, the Integrated Regional
Water Management (IRWM) is an interdisciplinary effort to coordinate water management efforts and
includes the San Diego County Water Authority, the City of San Diego, and the County of San Diego. One
of the guiding principles behind this collaboration is recognition that water supplies and the environment
are strongly connected, and the health of the environment will affect future water supplies. Recently, the
IRWM formed a Climate Change Work Group that will summarize information and prioritize activities to
mitigate the impacts of climate change on water-related issues in the region and inform the 2013 IRWM
Plan Update. The Climate Change Work Group operates under an inclusive process that is open to regional
stakeholders.
Climate Education Partners 23
Funded by an almost $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, this partnership between
local academic institutions, civic groups and communication experts is studying local perspectives
regarding climate change and its impacts on the region. Partners are led by the University of San Diego,
and are comprised of California State University San Marcos, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, The San
Diego Foundation, and The Steve Alexander Group. The goal for this partnership is to understand how best
to communicate the causes and consequences of climate change in the San Diego region, and work with
key regional leaders to identify how to best adapt to or prevent the likely impacts to our region.
http://www.sdirwmp.org/
22
http://www.sandiego.edu/climate/
23
A report prepared by The San Diego Foundation for the Climate Collaborative 21
Looking Ahead
While significant local climate action progress has been made in recent years, there
are many opportunities to move this critical work forward and support robust
implementation of climate action plans. One such opportunity is to create stronger
connections between climate action plans and general, regional and community
plans, plans that guide community growth and development and which local
governments are required to develop and regularly update. There are many resources
available to local governments in developing these plans with climate change in
mind, including guidance from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and
the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association and in SANDAG’s regional
plans. These resources include state legislation related to greenhouse gas emissions
reductions, and even offer suggested language and general plans that can act as
models for addressing climate change.
Along with these opportunities come significant challenges. Like most other
regions across the country, governments in San Diego County are operating under
constrained budgets. For this reason, local governments will likely rely on publicprivate partnerships to develop innovative financing tools to help implement
the climate action plans. Additionally, meeting the emissions reduction and
preparedness goals in existing and future climate action plans will require ongoing
dialogue, cooperation and coordination with the local business and nonprofit
community as well as engagement from community residents. Finally, while there is
broad consensus in the scientific community that the climate is changing, and public
opinion research shows strong support from regional residents, this issue continues
to polarize political discourse, sometimes hindering local action. By working together
and investing today in efforts to reduce polluting emissions and promote climate
preparedness, we can ensure a vibrant economy and healthy environment for
generations to come.
Looking ahead, while some programs and policies are
already in place in local jurisdictions to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, much more remains to be done to prepare
for the unavoidable impacts of climate change. There is an
ongoing, practical need to collaborate, share information and
resources, and continue to work toward addressing climate
change on a regional level, to help advance broader efforts
at the state, national and international levels. The San Diego
region’s commitment has demonstrated the capacity for local
government and public agencies to address climate change
impacts, and will continue to act as a model for other regions
in their efforts to address climate change on a local scale and
regional level.
22 The
Climate
Malin
Action
Burnham
Planning
Center
Progress
for Civic
in the
Engagement
San DiegoatRegion
The San Diego Foundation:
The San Diego Foundation Climate Initiative Advisory Committee
Lisa Bicker
Climate Initiative, Chair
Co-founder and Former
Executive Director of
CleanTECH San Diego
Risa Baron
San Diego Gas & Electric
Jill Gravender
EcoStrategies
Lisa Briggs
Sempra Energy
Ben Haddad
California Strategies, LLC
David Engel
Climate Initiative, Vice Chair
Christina Gonzales
Justice Overcoming
Boundaries
Andy Hamilton
Air Pollution Control
District
Jason Foster
San Diego County
Water Authority
Brian Holland
ICLEI - Local Governments
for Sustainability
Judy Forrester
Bank of America
Debra Kelley
American Lung
Association in California
Congressman Scott Peters
52nd District (Climate
Initiative, Immediate
Past Chair)
Scott Anders
Energy Policy Initiatives
Center
Molly Gavin
Qualcomm
Bob Leiter
Urban and Environmental
Planning
Michael Meacham
City of Chula Vista
Devon Muto
ICF International
Linda Gianelli Pratt
City of San Diego
Climate Collaborative Agencies and Organizations
City of Chula Vista
Port of San Diego
The San Diego Foundation
City of San Diego
San Diego Association of Governments
University of San Diego
County of San Diego
San Diego Gas & Electric
The San Diego Foundation Staff
BongHwan (BH) Kim
Vice President/Executive Director, The San Diego
Foundation’s Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement
Emily Welborn Guevara, MESM,
Manager, Center for Civic Engagement,
Research & Analysis
Daniel Beintema
Vice President, Operations
Nicola Hedge, MPIA,
Manager, Climate Initiative
Emily Young, PhD
Senior Director, Environment Program
T H E S A N D I E G O F O U N D AT I O N O F F I C E L O C AT I O N S
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Rev. 01/2013