Local governments around the world, including in the Bay Area, have been taking action to protect the climate since the early 1990s. Municipal commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has been demonstrated through local climate action plans, resolutions, and joint statements for over twenty years, reflecting the view that acting to protect the climate yields a variety of benefits to local communities. Contra Costa County in 2008 adopted a Municipal Climate Action Plan that identifies strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from County operations. In 2015, the County adopted a Climate Action Plan that identifies strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in unincorporated areas across the County, in most sectors of the economy. (The 2015 Climate Action Plan does not address emissions from large stationary sources, which are under the jurisdiction of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.) It sets targets for reductions by 2020 and 2035 that are aligned with the State targets that were in effect at the time the Climate Action Plan was adopted.   
  
President Trump’s announcement on June 1, 2017 that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement has elicited a variety of responses among state and local governments, most notably the rise of public statements expressing solidarity with the rest of the world in support of the Paris Climate Agreement. Several public statements have arisen in direct response to President Trump’s action, and several sign-on efforts that existed prior to June 1 have experienced renewed interest and visibility. Staff has researched the most relevant collective statements, including: We Are Still In sign-on letter; County Climate Coalition; and Under2 Coalition commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  
  
On July 31, 2017, the Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee considered actions the County could take regarding the Paris Climate Agreement. The Ad Hoc Sustainability Committee recommends that Contra Costa County participate in the We Are Still In sign-on statement and the County Climate Coalition. The We Are Still In sign-on letter (Attachment A) was created in direct response to President Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord. We Are Still In invites interested parties to sign on to a statement to demonstrate that major sub-national leaders in the United States are still committed to ambitious action on climate change. Beyond signing the statement there is no substantive obligation. Signing the We Are Still In letter allows the County to make a strong, public statement on the specific issue of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord.  
  
Similarly, the County Climate Coalition (Attachment B) provides an opportunity for only county governments to affirm their commitment to the Paris Climate Accord. Organized by Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, the County Climate Coalition does not require a financial commitment. The organizer envisions the County Climate Coalition will also provide a venue for sharing information between counties about climate protection activities.   

A decision to not participate in the We Are Still In statement and the County Climate Coalition means the County would forego opportunities to demonstrate its continued support for the principles adopted in the County's Climate Action Plan.