Making Progress on Climate Action
The City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) outlines the specific actions our community will need to take to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and build our resilience against future climate change. The City adopted a major update to our CAP in January 2018 and an interim update in November 2020. Since adoption in 2018, the City has been steadily implementing the measures we committed to in the CAP. In January 2020, the City published its first comprehensive CAP Annual Monitoring Report documenting progress. Subsequent monitoring reports are published annually and can be found on the City's Climate webpage.
Explore the sections below to learn about our GHG emissions reduction targets set by the CAP and the City's recent progress made towards achievement.
Status of CAP Implementation
This section summarizes the City's latest progress on implementing the CAP measures identified in the Climate Action Plan. The CAP measures are grouped by relevant strategy and goal, below. Click the drop-down arrow to the right of each strategy to explore the progress made in more detail. A timeline, status, and list of co-benefits are presented for each CAP measure.
As of January 2021, most of the CAP measures have been funded and initiated or are partially complete and these are noted in blue with a status of "In Progress." A couple CAP measures
have already been accomplished and these are noted in green as "Complete." And small handful of CAP measures
still require some form of funding or staffing to initiate and these are noted in yellow as "Awaiting Resources." Click the "Learn More" link within the description to see more detail about how far along the City is on implementing that particular element of the CAP.
Building Efficiency
Renewable Energy
Water Efficiency
Clean and Efficient Transportation
Reduce Off-Road Equipment
Zero Waste
Carbon Sequestration
Climate Action Plan
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
We care about the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being emitted in Encinitas because it indicates how much our community is contributing to climate change. GHGs naturally occur in the atmosphere and act as a thermal blanket for the Earth. Excessive burning of fossil fuels like gasoline and natural gas release large amounts GHGs into the atmosphere, causing excessive atmospheric heating, which leads to disruptions in the global climate. Global climate change can cause extreme weather events, such as prolonged droughts and rising sea levels. It can also exacerbate other environmental issues such as ocean acidification and habitat degradation.
UNIT | GHGs have a natural heat trapping capacity which varies by gas. Humans produce more carbon dioxide (CO2) than any other GHG. We count emissions of GHGs based on how each GHG's heat trapping capacity compares to the heat trapping capacity of CO2. This standardized metric of greenhouse gas emissions is called the "CO2 equivalent" (CO2e). Cities measure GHGs in metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e). |
| MTCO2eMetric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent |
Climate Action Plan
2012 Emissions Inventory
An emissions inventory helps to understand the source and amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from various activities occurring in a given area. The City’s 2012 inventory includes the GHG emissions that are within the City’s jurisdictional control and can be readily estimated, monitored, and reduced by City action. Climate science continues to evolve and improve, therefore the year 2012 was selected for the City’s baseline year because it is the oldest year in which reliable and accurate data is available. In 2012, community and municipal activities in the City of Encinitas generated an estimated 459,000 MTCO2e emissions. To put this into perspective, this would equivalent to burning 51.6 million gallons of gasoline in one year (EPA, 2017).
Climate Action Plan
2020 and 2030 Emissions Targets
With the adoption of the updated Climate Action Plan in 2020, the City of Encinitas committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 13% in 2020 and 44% by 2030, as compared to 2012 baseline emissions (CAP, 2020). These targets align with, and in the case of our 2030 goal, exceed, the statewide greenhouse gas emissions targets established by California Assembly Bill 32.
Climate Action Plan
Emissions Reduction Strategies
The City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) adopted seven emissions reduction strategies or areas to focus our efforts to achieve the greatest benefits. Within these strategies there are 20 CAP measures the City will implement. By implementing the measures within each strategy and tracking our progress, we can meet our 2020 and 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. Together, the implementation of all CAP measures is expected to reduce emissions by nearly 38,000 MTCO2e. There are also four identified federal and state regulations that are expected to reduce emissions by nearly 94,000 MTCO2e by 2030 (CAP, 2020).
The "wedge diagram" below displays how state and federal programs and CAP measures proposed in the CAP will help Encinitas achieve our GHG emissions reduction targets. The wedge diagram is an interactive tool. Click on one of the strategies in the legend to see its contribution to our GHG emission reductions.
Climate Action Plan
Implementation
When the CAP was initially updated in 2018, the City also developed a comprehensive CAP Implementation Plan which outlines how the city will implement CAP measures and monitor progress. The CAP Implementation Plan serves as a guidance document for City staff. Implementation of certain measures will require the City to develop and implement new ordinances, programs, and projects, or modify existing ones. This will involve careful consideration of the operational and capital resources needed, as well as timing, phasing, and monitoring of implementation. Incorporating social equity into implementation of the CAP and promoting green jobs will also be key to a successful outcome. The CAP Implementation Plan identified several measures the City can take to promote green jobs, including developing a Green Business Program and establishing green job-supporting programs like Community Choice Energy. All progress on CAP implementation will be reported on the City’s Climate Dashboard.
Climate Action Plan
Monitor and Update
Monitoring progress towards greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets involves a two-pronged effort, including 1) tracking of progress on implementing the Climate Action Plan, showing trends towards 2020 and 2030 targets and 2) completing an updated GHG emissions inventory.
The City will complete annual monitoring reports to share progress on CAP actions beginning in 2019. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) will support the City’s monitoring efforts by creating GHG emissions inventories for the City every two years. In December 2018, the City completed an interim progress update. For the latest information on the City’s progress, explore the Climate Dashboard.
CAPs are considered dynamic documents that require regular assessment and update to ensure effective implementation. Existing actions may become obsolete or ineffective, new technology may inspire new actions, or federal and state regulations may drive change. The City’s CAP will be updated at least every five years to make any necessary adjustments.