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Revised CARP Vision, Goals and Strategies
Alameda recognizes the need for immediate and fair action to respond effectively to the climate emergency. The following revised vision and goals reflect the feedback heard from City departments, stakeholder meetings, a community survey, and a community workshop held on June 25, 2024 on the 2019 CARP vision and goals.
Vision
Alameda aims to be carbon neutral and to build community resilience in ways that enhance our quality of life and reduce environmental burden on vulnerable communities. The whole community is a vital part of this effort.
Goals
Goal 1: Carbon Neutrality. Alameda will fairly reduce
emissions from transportation, buildings, solid waste, and water in line with local and State targets.
Goal 2: Community Resilience. Alameda will safeguard the community, especially vulnerable communities, from the
impacts of climate change and natural hazards.
Goal 3: Community Education and Activation. The Alameda community will be inspired to participate in climate action and resilience efforts. Alameda will cultivate climate leadership, innovation, and community building among all residents, businesses, community organizations, and service providers.
Goal 4: City Leadership. The City of Alameda will lead by example by aligning resources and working collaboratively to implement CARP.
Strategies
The following table lists proposed strategies for the mid-cycle CARP update. These strategies reflect feedback from the City’s internal CARP Green Team working group and city departments.
Additionally, the CARP Focus Areas were presented during the community workshop held on June 25, 2024.
Key Terms
Carbon neutral: Carbon neutral,
or achieving zero net emissions,
means having a balance between
emitting carbon and absorbing
carbon from the atmosphere in
carbon sinks.
Community resilience:
Resilience is the ability of a
community to prepare for
disruptions, to adapt to changing
conditions, withstand and rapidly
recover from shocks and
stresses, and to adapt to future
change.
Vulnerable communities:
Vulnerable communities are
those that have both social
vulnerability (i.e. renter, children,
disabled, single parent
households, lack transportation,
people of color, low level of
education, very low income), and
exposure to environmental
burdens and climate impacts.
(BCDC, 2020)
Our Targets
We set targets in line with State
and the scientific community to:
• Reduce emissions 50%
below 2005 levels by 2030
• Become carbon neutral by
2045
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Focus Area Strategy Key Actions (2025-2030)
City
Leadership
CL-1: City Leadership. Ensure all
employees have the resources and
knowledge to support climate goals. Monitor
and report on CARP implementation
progress to be transparent with the public,
measure impact, align with funding
opportunities and other city planning efforts,
and reevaluate as needed.
• Continue interdepartmental Green Team
meetings
• Education and training for city staff
• Annual reporting and data collection
• Regularly update GHG inventory
• Continue to attract and support green and
blue tech businesses to locate in Alameda
CL-2: Clean Energy Purchase and
Generation. Electricity consumed by all
residential and commercial users in
Alameda is from 100% clean energy sources
by 2020 (existing commitment).
• AMP to continue to purchase 100% clean
electricity
• AMP to continue to maintain affordable
electric rates
• Continue to encourage local solar
generation
CL-3: City Facilities and Operations.
Implement policies and programs to reduce
emissions associated with City facilities and
operations.
• Continue to prioritize the purchase of zero
emission fleet vehicles
• Minimize and eliminate where possible
natural gas infrastructure for new and
renovated City buildings
• Evaluate existing municipal buildings and
take actions to switch to climate friendly
refrigerants, reduce water consumption,
and electrify new and existing facilities
• Conduct regular City employee commute
surveys and explore city employee
commute programs
• Modify city procurement standards to
reduce waste
Community
Activation and
Education
CAE-1: Community Activation and
Education. Educate the community about
anticipated near- and long-term climate
impacts, community vulnerabilities,
opportunities for adaptation, and
opportunities for GHG mitigation with the
intent to activate residents, businesses, and
community partners.
• Partner with community- and faith-based
organizations and engage youth to raise
community awareness and inspire climate
action
• Encourage behavior change around
purchasing to reduce waste
Transportation
LUTC-1: Land Use and Transportation
Coordination. Support development that
minimizes the need for single occupancy
vehicles and facilitates the use of transit and
active transportation.
• Implement General Plan Housing and
Mobility Elements
T-1: Active Transportation. Provide safe,
comfortable, and accessible ways for
people of all ages and all abilities to get
around Alameda by walking, biking, or other
active modes.
• Implement Active Transportation Plan,
Vision Zero Action Plan and General Plan
Mobility Element
T-2: Motor Vehicle Trip Reduction.
Minimize drive alone vehicle trips at Estuary
Crossings and increase trips by transit and
active transportation modes within Alameda
to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and
• Implement Transportation Choices Plan
• Continue to work with Alameda
Transportation Management Association
(ATMA) to expand TDM programs in their
areas
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greenhouse gas emissions through
Transportation Demand Management
Programs (TDM) such as by providing
information, requiring vehicle trip reduction
plans for new development and City
operations, and providing incentives to
existing businesses, residents, visitors, and
City employees.
• Continue to support Safe Routes to
Schools program and implement
infrastructure improvements
T-3: Parking and Curb Management.
Proactively manage public parking to lower
VMT and greenhouse gas emissions.
Regularly update vehicular, bike, EV ,
carshare, and other parking standards in the
Zoning Code to lower VMT and greenhouse
gas emissions.
• Continue to implement the Parking
Management Program
• Collect parking occupancy data
• Invest parking fee revenue into mobility
and climate programs
• Continually reform parking standards for
new development to prioritize parking for
bicycles, electric vehicles, and carshare
• Update the City’s EV charger requirements
for new development
T-4: Public Transit Service. Support and
advocate for regional transit agency
improvements that make transit more
accessible, affordable, and timely. Improve
transit stops on City public right-of-way.
• Implement Transportation Choices Plan
• Support Link21 Program
• Continue free bus pass program for
seniors and people with disabilities
• Continue Estuary Water Shuttle
T-5: Vehicle Electrification. Accelerate the
adoption of zero-emission vehicles and
electric micromobility options and increase
the availability of EV charging stations
citywide.
• Continue public awareness efforts and
provide educational resources to
encourage EV ownership
• Publicize financial incentives and rebates
programs
• Expand publicly available EV charging
infrastructure in public parking lots and
public right of way
• Explore supporting residential curbside
charging
• Continually update parking standards in
the Building/Zoning Code
• Update City Charter to allow enforcement
of EV parking zones
• Support WETA Electrification Plan
Buildings
BE-1: Existing Building Decarbonization.
Improve the performance of and
decarbonize existing residential,
commercial, and municipal buildings and
facilities throughout the city that aligns with
the Equitable Decarbonization Plan and
regional air quality and water conservation
standards.
• Implement the Existing Building
Decarbonization Plan
• Connect residents, businesses,
architects, and contractors to building
energy and water conservation resources
and incentives.
• Continue to streamline and discount
permit fees for electrification permits
• Adopt policies and building code
amendments that require higher energy
performance in existing buildings and
prepare for future State electrification
regulations.
• Identify additional funding to support
building decarbonization programs
• Educate businesses and contractors
about low-GWP refrigerant alternatives
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BE-2: New Construction Decarbonization.
Adopt local reach codes that encourage
decarbonizing residential and nonresidential
new construction and ADUs and the use of
recycled and low embodied carbon
materials, renewable energy, efficient
design.
• Connect residents, businesses,
architects, and contractors to building
energy and water conservation resources
and incentives.
• Adopt policies that require higher energy
performance for new construction that
meet federal standards.
• Develop a new development checklist
that includes all sustainability building
requirements
Waste RC-1: Solid Waste Diversion. Divert
recyclables and organics from landfill in
accordance with State targets and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions related to
landfilled waste through the implementation
of the Zero Waste Implementation Plan.
• Adopt and implement the 2024 Zero
Waste Implementation Plan
RC-2: Goods and Services. Encourage
behavior change around purchasing to
reduce waste through education,
highlighting local businesses and products,
and partnerships and/or lobbying with other
local agencies.
• Work with community-based
organizations to encourage behavior
change around disposability of goods
• Encourage a local sharing and repair
economy
• Measure consumption-based emissions
• Partner with community organizations to
support fixit clinics
• Implement a tool lending library
Urban
Greening
S-1: Urban Forestry. Implement the Urban
Forest Plan to increase tree canopy coverage
by growing and maintaining the urban forest
across all neighborhoods, particularly in
socially vulnerable communities.
• Adopt and implement the Urban Forest
Plan
S-2: Open Space and Greenbelts. Expand
and manage open space, greenbelts and
natural stormwater treatments such as bio-
retention basins or raingardens to increase
carbon sequestration, habitat connectivity,
public access to nature, and flood and heat
island reductions.
• Implement SB 1383 requirements to
procure locally produced compost
• Apply compost on Alameda’s parks and
open spaces
• Continue partnerships to provide a free
community compost hub and educate
residents about producing and using
compost
• Support development of urban greening
projects in schoolyards, community
centers, and neighborhoods
• Implement the Green Infrastructure Plan
• Align Alameda public lands management
with climate resilience goals as outlined in
the LHMP and OAAC projects