Chula Vista’s Climate
Emergency Declaration
Ed Legaspi, Sustainability Commissioner March 1, 2022
Climate Change Impacts
Sustainability Commission
Process
▪ Interest from Sustainability Commission in late 2020 to explore Chula Vista potentially declaring a Climate Emergency
▪ Formed the Climate Emergency ad hoc subcommittee with staff guidance - Commissioners Baugh, Rodriguez and Legaspi
▪ Subcommittee met virtually with staff several times from January to October 2021 and created draft documents
▪ Brought final drafts to Sustainability Commission in October 2021 ▪ Commission approved unanimously to send it to City Council for review and adoption
Climate Emergency
Declaration
Some California and Local
Jurisdictions with similar:
● Del Mar
● Encinitas
● La Mesa
● Los Angeles
● Oakland
● Sacramento
● San Diego
● San Francisco City and
County
● San Jose
● Santa Barbara City and
County
● Solana Beach
Source: www.carbonbrief.org/unep-net-zero-pledges-provide-an-opening-to-close-growing-emissions-gap The sooner emissions start decreasing, the easier the path to meet our goals (having global warming stay within 1.5c.)
Climate Emergency
A state of climate emergency is hereby declared.
▪ Climate Change is an Urgent Threat - The City of Chula Vista acknowledges that a global climate crisis exists and poses a serious, urgent and pressing threat to the well-being of Chula Vista, its inhabitants, economy and environment, and therefore there is need for immediate actions to address the global climate crisis. ▪ The Need for Equity - The City of Chula Vista commits to consider environmental, economic and social justice in its climate actions by actively seeking input from all community stakeholders. ▪ Science Based - The City of Chula Vista commits to ensuring that the City’s actions remain in alignment with the most current scientific findings regarding climate change and that it will continue to rely on and solicit the advice and guidance of scientific experts.
Actions to Address the
Crisis
▪ Updates the City’s GHG reduction goals based on science-based reduction targets of 57% below 2018 levels by 2030 provided by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
▪ Alert all staff to the City’s concern for the climate crisis and commits to updating the City Operations Sustainability Plan to ensure all practical sustainability practices are taken at facilities and in procurement.
▪ Continued and increased efforts to bring to residents’ awareness and concern for the gravity of the climate crisis. The City’s Chula Vista Climate Action Challenge (www.cvclimatechallenge.com) is a good start, but not enough residents know about it.
▪ Collaboration with climate, environmental and educational organizations such as the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, Local Government Sustainable Energy Commission, Living Coast Discovery Center, Chula Vista Elementary School District, Sweetwater Union High School District, South Bay 350 and others.
Next Steps
Early 2022
▪ Inaugural member of the White House Council on National Building Performance Standards Coalition - recognition for our Benchmarking Energy Saving Ordinance (launched January)
▪ Participating in the US Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge - pledged a 50% energy reduction by 2032 for City operations (launched with the White House 2/28/22)
▪ Waste Reduction Strategic Plan at City Council tonight ▪ San Diego Community Power Residential Enrollment - May Remainder of 2022
▪ 2020 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory - summer
▪ Climate Action Plan update - 2nd half of 2022
▪ City Operations Sustainability Plan update - late 2022