Communitywide Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (Communitywide CAP) Project
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The County began work on the Climate Action Plan – Communitywide Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (Communitywide CAP) project in 2016. The Communitywide CAP is envisioned to include strategies that will both (1) reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change, and (2) help the community prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Public participation and input is encouraged to ensure the Communitywide CAP reflects the needs of Sacramento County. Throughout the process you may submit your comments by email to: ClimateActionPlan@saccounty.net.
Background
Many greenhouse gases (GHGs) occur naturally in the environment, but scientists have measured steady increases in most GHGs since the mid-1700s. Because GHGs trap heat in the atmosphere, increased levels of GHGs cause the Earth's temperatures to rise and weather patterns to change. As a result, the Sacramento region is expected to have more extreme heat waves and more extreme storms, while also having less overall rainfall and less snowpack in the Sierra Nevada.
The State has passed legislation, including the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32), requiring GHG emissions to be reduced. In 2009, Sacramento County began a multi-phase Climate Action Plan (CAP) to meet the State's targets for GHG reductions. The components of the multi-phase CAP are shown in Figure 1, below.
Figure 1: Climate Action Plan Components
Phase 1
The Board of Supervisors adopted the Climate Action Plan – Strategy and Framework Document on November 9, 2011, which presented a framework for reducing GHG emissions and an overall strategy to address climate change. Additionally, it provided direction for developing the second phase of the CAP.
Phase 2
Government Operations
The Board of Supervisors adopted the Climate Action Plan – Government Operations (Government Operations CAP) on September 11, 2012. The Government Operations CAP identified the GHG emissions from the County's operations (i.e. County-owned facilities, vehicles, and equipment) and measures to reduce these GHG emissions. As part of the Communitywide CAP project, the County intends to: update the inventory of GHG emission from the County's operations; review the status of the measures identified in the current Government Operations CAP; and revise the measures, or propose new measures, as needed.
Communitywide
The County began working on the Climate Action Plan – Communitywide Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (Communitywide CAP) project in 2016. This project is intended to complete the second phase of the County's multi-phase CAP process. The Communitywide CAP will use a modified version of the process recommended by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, shown in Figure 2, below, in order to 1) update the unincorporated County's GHG inventory and forecasts, 2) determine the GHG reduction targets which are required, and 3) propose measures to achieve the required GHG reductions for the entire County.
Additionally, to prepare for climate change impacts (e.g. impacts related to precipitation, flooding, heat waves, wildfires, air quality, water supply, water quality, natural ecosystems, and agriculture), the Communitywide CAP will use the process identified by California Climate Adaptation Planning Guide, shown in Figure 3, below. In the process, steps 1 through 5 guide the preparation of the vulnerability assessment, and steps 6 through 9 guide the development of an adaptation strategy.
Figure 2: Climate Action Planning Process
Source: ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability
Figure 3: Climate Adaptation Planning Process
Source: California Natural Resources Agency
Project Documents
Public Outreach
Completed
Information from past public outreach meetings is provided here.
Board of Supervisors Workshop 1
Public Workshop 2
Public Workshop 1
Stakeholder Kickoff Meeting
Contact
For general inquiries regarding the CAP, you may submit your questions by email to: ClimateActionPlan@saccounty.net.
Staff
- Todd Smith, Principal Planner
- John Lundgren, Senior Planner
- Todd Taylor, Associate Planner
Additional Information
The following list of websites provide additional information about climate action planning in California and in the Sacramento region.
