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Added details on Climate Action Plan
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==== Climate Action Plan ====
Following a failed expansion in 2018, the 2022 update to the Sustainability and Mobility Departments' Climate Action Plan (CAP) was unanimously approved by the City Council on August 2nd, 2022<ref name=":0">https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/08-02-22_climate_action_plan_approved_by_city_council_news_release.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/sustainability/climateactionplan.html</ref><ref>https://www.sandiego.gov/sustainability</ref>. Described as "the most aggressive climate action plan in California" by the San Diego Tribune, the plan detailed a series of ambitious strategies to reach the cities goal of net-zero emissions by 2035-2045<ref name=":0" /><ref>https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-gloria-mayor-announce-20190109-story.html</ref>. The 2022 CAP seeks to establish foundational changes in the form of policy while encouraging private entities to make climate-conscious decisions<ref>https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/draft_climate_action_implementation_plan_022823.pdf</ref>.
The 2022 CAP focuses on
# Decarbonization
# Renewable energy
# Land use and transportation
# Handling and reusing of waste
# Resilient ecosystem protection infrastructure
# Acclimatization to changes in climate<ref>https://www.sandiego.gov/sites/default/files/final_july_2016_cap.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.sandiego.gov/sustainability/climate-action-plan</ref>
==== Decarbonization ====
[[File:Citywide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory.png|thumb|A graph from the Sustainability Division of the City of San Diego depicting the progress of greenhouse gas emissions in San Diego.]]
The greenhouse gas emissions in San Diego in 2019 was 9.6 million metric tons CO2e, significantly below "business as usual" projections and slightly less than projected citywide<ref>[https://www.sandiego.gov/2020cap#:~:text=The%20total%20GHG%20emissions%20from,decrease%20in%20emissions%20from%202010. https://www.sandiego.gov/2020cap#:~:text=The%20total%20GHG%20emissions%20from,decrease%20in%20emissions%20from%202010.]</ref>. While the City is not close to it's goal of net-zero emissions by 2035, the 2022 CAP seeks to build on this progress. To achieve this goal, CAP contains plans to discontinue 45% of natural gas usage in existing buildings (50% in municipal) by 2030. By 2035, the City expects to eliminate 90% of natural gas usage in existing buildings and 100% in municipal<ref name=":1">https://www.sandiego.gov/sustainability/climate-action-plan</ref>.
==== Renewable Energy ====
Mass adoption of renewable energy is considered one of the most important pathways to sustainability. The 2022 CAP renews the City's commitment to reach 100% renewable energy. Adding onto the previous iterations of the CAP, the City announced it's new plan to replace it's fleet of gas fuel cars with electric. Partnering with San Diego Community Power, the city is researching ways to make renewable energy more accesable and affordable for San Diego residents<ref name=":1" />.
==== Land Use and Transportation ====
Emissions from transportation are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in San Diego. To decrease car usage, the City is exploring tactics to increase walking and cycling as a mode of transportation to 19% and 7% in 2030 and 25% and 10%, respectively. The City is also seeking to encourage public transportation and electric vehicles to San Diego residents<ref name=":1" />.
==== Handling and Reusing of Waste ====
As part of the 2022 CAP draft, the City plans on expanding the Polystyrene Foam and Single Use Plastics Ordinance to eliminate single use materials and support sustainability. The 2022 CAP proposes partnering with local composting facilities such as Miramar Greenergy to increase the quantity and quality of compost product to achieve it's goal of 90% waste diversion rate by 2035<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">https://www.sandiego.gov/sustainability/climate-action-plan</ref>.
==== Resilient Ecosystem Protection Infrastructure ====
By 2035, San Diego County will attempt to restore 700 acres of salt marsh land and other forms of wetland, producing an expected greenhouse gas emissions decrease of 821 MT CO2e. In addition, the City seeks to plant more trees in urban environments, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing air quality for residents<ref name=":2" />.
==== Acclimatization to Changes in Climate ====
Strategy 6, new to the Climate Action Plan, is broadly defined as an exploratory strategy to identify further opportunities to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Assuming strategies 1-5 reach their projections, the City still needs to reduce annual emissions by 391,000 MT CO2e to reach the 2030 GHG reductions target. Before the next update to the CAP, the City will investigate opportunities to electrify construction, strengthen bonds with organizations and local industry, and expedite city processes in implementing CAP recommendations<ref name=":2" />.
===== Controversy =====
The Climate Action Plan has been met with mixed responses by the public. Business groups have argued that it does too much at the expense of local industry<ref name=":3">https://voiceofsandiego.org/2023/03/09/san-diego-business-groups-balk-at-citys-new-climate-policy-guide/</ref>, while environmental activists have claimed it isn't doing enough to reach it's goal of net-zero emissions<ref>https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2023/03/02/environmental-activists-want-more-from-san-diegos-climate-action-implementation-plan</ref>. Councilman Raul Campillo has responded, saying the problem of climate change, "is like inventing calculus and probably just as hard"<ref name=":3" />. INSERT JOB GROWTH CONCERNS, RESPONSE
==== Climate Resilient SD ====
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