What is a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan?

A local government or city Climate Action and Adaptation Plan can serve as a roadmap that identifies measurable targets and specific actions the agency may take to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its community. An effective Plan will establish targets and actions in the sectors that fall within a local government’s given authority, including transportation, energy, building optimization, and management of water and waste, and include a baseline inventory of GHG emissions, forecasts for planned emissions reductions and carbon offsets, goals and targets, strategies for implementation, and a method for tracking progress.

Pacifica’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan

Pacifica’s Climate Action Plan (Plan) was last updated in 2014 and in May 2023, Pacifica City Council directed the formation of a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Task Force (CAAP Force) to develop an update to the Plan. The CAAP Force’s 11-members were appointed on July 10, 2023, and began meeting in September 2023.

The duties of the Task Force are to develop a draft CAAP for Council adoption. This entails engaging with staff, the community, and other stakeholders to meet the following milestones.

  • Define the scope of the Plan

  • Analyze the City’s GHG inventory and develop an emissions forecast

  • Establish measurable targets and actionable goals

  • Formulate the strategies, initiatives, and plan to implement the goals

  • Draft the Plan, with reporting and updating requirements built in

  • Present the Plan for adoption

The CAAP Force meets the third Tuesday of every month at Pacifica City Council Chambers at 2212 Beach Blvd. in Pacifica.

Meeting agendas are emailed to subscribers and posted on the City’s website.

Announcements & Updates

Project updates will occasionally be posted to this site as milestones occur. Click the button below to subscribe to receive project updates by email.

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The 2014 Climate Action Plan

In July 2014 the Pacifica City Council adopted its first Climate Action Plan, which was intended to provide policy direction and identify actions the City and community can take to significantly reduce GHG emissions. The Plan includes 15 GHG reduction measures that address four emission sources - energy, transportation, solid waste, and water.

Since the 2014 CAP adoption, the City has undertaken several tangible actions to reduce GHG emissions including, among others:

  • Adopting Reach Codes to promote electrification instead of gas

  • Implementing California’s new Organics Recycling law to promote composting

  • Adoption of the Disposable Foodware Ordinance, reducing plastic and waste

  • Completing a heritage tree ordinance update to protect and preserve more trees

  • Developing an EV Charging Station strategy to support grant applications for EV infrastructure

  • Completing a 2040 General Plan Update that prioritizes in-fill, mixed-use development and discourages auto-dependent development on the periphery of Pacifica

  • Replacing old City fleet vehicles with hybrid or more fuel-efficient vehicles

  • Creating more bike lanes and sidewalk improvements pursuant to an updated Bike/Ped Master Plan to help promote walking and biking

  • Planning for solar power at the Community Center, renovated Civic Center, and Calera Creek Water Recycling Plant

  • Partnering with Peninsula Clean Energy and opting in all accounts (public and private) for their renewable energy portfolio

  • Implementing hybrid work schedules for employees, helping to reduce commute emissions

  • Incorporating energy efficiency measures into the new Civic Center project, e.g., electric water heaters instead of gas, not to mention that renovating the structures is more sustainable than demolishing and building new structures

While since the 2016 Implementation and 2017 Implementation Reports, the City has not had the ability to further quantify the effects from these activities, they are important contributions to the overall effort by the City to support CAP implementation and GHG reductions.

Plan Pacifica - Help Shape Pacifica’s Future!

The current process to update the Housing Element of the General Plan and Local Coastal Land Use Plan relies on vital input, visioning and feedback from the community.

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