Key activities since the Sustainability Committee's last regular meeting on May 24, 2021, are listed below.
- On October 19, 2021, Public Works staff reported to the Board of Supervisors on implementation of a Sustainability Fund that will support investments in County facilities that support the County's climate goals. Also at that meeting, the Interdepartmental Climate Action Task Force brought forward its second report, as directed by the Climate Emergency Resolution. The Task Force will be focused on helping County departments adopt best practices from the County's Green Business Program and implementing the Sustainability Fund. The work around best practices is supported by a cross- departmental steering committee continues to support the work of the Task Force in this regard.
- At the direction of the Board of Supervisors, Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) staff is developing an ordinance that would require all new construction of residential and some new non-residential construction, such as retail, office, and hotels to be all-electric. Staff is currently developing the language for the ordinance, which will require final approval from the Board of Supervisors and the California Energy Commission before it goes into effect. The goal is for this to happen in early 2022.
- Sustainability staff met with County departments to review the draft goals and strategies for the update to the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP). This was the key focus of the October Sustainability Commission meeting. Staff anticipates bringing the draft CAP,including the goals and strategies, to the Sustainability Committee in January 2022. The draft CAP will be included in the Environmental Impact Report for the General Plan. Staff anticipates working with the community to further incorporate community priorities for the CAP as part ofthe outreach that will occur in 2022.
- Sustainability staff continue to support the General Plan update. Staff is working on a schedule to have the Sustainability Commission review those parts of the General Plan that are related to the Climate Action Plan; this is in addition to the environmental justice policies, which the Sustainability Commission has been reviewing since last year.
- Staff from multiple County departments are actively working together to develop the waste and food recovery ordinance, procurement policy, and associated programs the County is mandated to implement in 2022 pursuant to the State's SB 1373 Short-Lived Climate Pollutant regulations.
- Hosted a meeting of the Sustainability Exchange, a venue for local government staff in Contra Costa County. The Sustainability Exchange toured the new Wildcat Creek Trail in San Pablo.
- Contra Costa Health Services and Department of Conservation and Development staff continued to implement two grants to provide in-home asthma trigger mitigations and energy efficiency measures to Contra Costa Health Plan Medical members with moderate to severe asthma. Both agencies will also receive funds from a grant recently received by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to provide similar services to Contra Costa Health Plan Medical members with moderate to severe asthma living near major transportation corridors.
- Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) has created a new role, Chief Climate & Health Policy Officer. Dan Peddycord, formerly director of the Public Health group, is the first person in this role. Peddycored is focused on:
1.The impact of current and future climate change on human health and health inequity (and how that looks demographically and geographically in Contra Costa County). This also includes weaving those impacts into thinking of our entire leadership team and related Divisions of CCHS from the Health Plan to Behavioral Health.
2. Understanding the landscape of climate and energy policy and how and where CCHS can advocate.
3. Helping CCHS promote and track progress on the green business plan.
4. Networking with climate organizations including health organizations that are developing a focus on climate change.
5. Developing presentation materials for a health audience.
6. Setting up a CCHS Climate Action Task Force that will help support the County (and CCHS version) of a Climate Action Plan. This includes helping link climate solutions into programming across CCHS Divisions.
7. Helping support CCHS contribution to the County General Plan.
- In early November, staff hosted a kickoff meeting of the partners to Healthy Lands, Healthy People, the carbon sequestration feasibility study funded through a grant from the California Department of Conservation. Kay partners in this project are the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District and the University of California Cooperative Extension.
- Participated in professional learning opportunities regarding environmental justice, carbon sequestration, communication and facilitation strategies, race and equity, and related.
- Collaborated with County staff working on topics including land use and transportation, hazardous materials, green business program, the County’s state and federal legislative platforms, economic development, health, codes, solid waste, energy, and related.
- Participated in regional activities.
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