Deadline to submit feedback: January 26
Alameda is making progress on its climate goals, achieving a 29% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005. However, additional local measures are needed to meet climate targets for 2030, according to a statement issued by the City.
[1]
“As an island city facing challenges from rising seas and increasing heat and smoke days, we need to take proactive steps to keep Alameda safe for current and future generations,” the statement noted.
Toward that end, the City is seeking public feedback [2]on its Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) Update [2] and Climate Adaptation and Hazard Mitigation Plan [3], which include an updated vision and goals, updated GHG mitigation and resilience measures, and 19 location-based priority strategies to respond to flooding and sea level rise. The deadline to provide feedback has been extended until January 26, 2025.
A Greenhouse Gas Inventory conducted as part of the CARP update shows that between 2005 and 2022, Alameda’s total emissions decreased by approximately 29% despite population and service population growth. Alameda is over halfway to achieving its goal of reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. This reduction has mainly been driven by Alameda Municipal Power’s (AMP) shift in 2020 to providing 100% clean energy, and lower transportation emissions—by about 25%—due to cleaner vehicles, reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and more efficient off-road equipment, such as lawn mowers and leaf blowers. Natural gas emissions also decreased by about 6% due to reduced residential natural gas usage.
Emissions are expected to continue to decrease in the coming years because of adopted State policies, but not enough to meet CARP targets without also implementing additional local measures. Projected emissions, adjusted for State policy, are estimated to decrease an additional 10% from 2022 to 2030. To meet CARP targets, an additional 11% emissions reduction needs to be achieved by local policies, the City noted.
Key accomplishments
Since adoption of the 2019 CARP, key accomplishments include:
- 100% clean energy from AMP.
- Hiring the City’s first Sustainability and Resilience Manager and a Sea Level Rise Adaptation Project Manager.
- Convening the Oakland Alameda Adaptation Committee to accelerate sea level rise adaptation, protect and restore water quality, habitat, and recreation, and promote community resilience.
- Adopting the Active Transportation Plan, delineating pedestrian improvements, a low-stress bicycle network, project prioritization, and the future of Slow Streets.
- Adopting the Equitable Building Decarbonization Plan that lays out the process for transitioning natural gas use in existing buildings toward clean and energy efficient all-electric buildings.
- Launching the Alameda Youth Climate Ambassadors Program with City sustainability staff and youth representing environmental clubs at Alameda middle and high schools.
- An Urban Forest Plan and Zero Waste Implementation Plan update are both in process and planned for adoption in 2025.
- A pilot program is in development to expand public EV charging in Alameda parking lots and curbside locations in 2025.
- AMP continuing to offer a range of rebates to switch home appliances from gas to electric and install residential and workplace EV chargers.
- A virtual public workshop held on December 18 to share the draft plan and hear community feedback. (View the presentation [4] and watch the workshop video [5].)
Share your opinion with the City
Read the CARP draft documents [2] and provide your input in the “Climate Comments” box or send more specific feedback on the online Feedback Form [6]. Comments must be submitted by January 26.
The plan and 2024 annual report will be shared with Alameda boards and commissions and the City Council in February and March.