REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Actions for Target Setting and Priority Strategies for Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote Sustainability and Environmental Protection
BACKGROUND
On January 24, 2020, the City began an update to the current Climate Action Plan (CAP) with the consultant team lead by Cascadia Consulting Group and including Raimi + Associates and David J. Powers and Associates.The City's current CAP, adopted in December 2013, identifies measurable actions the City can implement through the year 2020 to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels, as required by California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32). The City is now in the process of comprehensively updating the CAP to extend the City's GHG reduction goals through 2030, and to address new State requirements enacted since the 2013 CAP was adopted. For information on the regulatory background, refer to the Planning Commission Study Session staff report available as Attachment 1.
Planning Commission Input
A study session with the Planning Commission was held on August 26, 2020 with a follow-up study session on October 14, 2020 to obtain their recommendation on the appropriate reduction target for the CAP, and on the key strategies and initial actions list for these strategies. Staff asked the Commission as a whole to weigh in on their top priority actions for the first two focus areas, Buildings and Energy, and Transportation and Land Use. Staff reports for both the study sessions are available as Attachment 1 and 2. The Planning Commission provided the following input:
* Set an ambitious GHG emissions reduction target, exceeding the State mandate.
* The City of Santa Clara should project itself as a climate action leader.
* Emphasis should be on reducing Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT), promoting Electric Vehicles (EV's) and improving Electric Vehicle Infrastructure.
* Focus on data centers for opportunities to reduce GHG emissions.
* ...
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