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SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	01/25/2021
Subject: RECEIVE UPDATE on Climate Action Plan update and PROVIDE DIRECTION as appropriate.
Submitted For:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:	N/A
Referral Name:	N/A
Presenter:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator	Contact:	Jody London (925)674-7871

Information

Referral History:

Contra Costa County adopted its first Climate Action Plan (CAP) in 2015. The timeframe of the 2015 CAP was anticipated to extend through 2020.

In 2018, the County began working on an update to its General Plan, as well as its zoning ordinances and CAP, a body of work referred to as Envision Contra Costa 2040. The CAP will be included in the environmental impact review for the General Plan. Sustainability staff worked with the Sustainability Commission in 2019, including hosting several community meetings, to develop draft goals and strategies for an updated CAP.

Referral Update:

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, the General Plan was delayed in 2020. The Housing Element of the General Plan must be updated in 2022. It is desirable for all elements of the General Plan to be on the same review cycle. As a practical matter, given the many steps underway, the General Plan schedule is being revised for review and final adoption in the later part of 2022. This means the CAP update will also be delayed.

Sustainability staff are working on a number of projects and initiatives that support the County's climate action goals, both as articulated in the CAP, in the draft goals and strategies developed in 2019, and in the September 2020 Climate Emergency Resolution. Staff propose that while they work on the larger, longer term goals and strategies for the CAP update, the Board authorize an interim set of climate actions to be achieved over the next 18 months. Should the Committee concur with this course of action, staff will bring the interim climate actions to the Sustainability Committee in March, and then to the Board for endorsement.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

RECEIVE UPDATE on Climate Action Plan update and PROVIDE DIRECTION as appropriate.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

There is no fiscal impact.

Attachments
No file(s) attached.