Santa Monica City Council
April 26, 2022

CLIMATE

ACTION &

ADAPTATION
PLAN
A 2030 COMMUNITY PLAN

TO REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS
& BECOME CLIMATE RESILIENT

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

FINAL DRAFT
ADOPTED MAY 2019

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Breeze BikeShare
Chamber of Commerce
Climate Action Santa Monica
ClimateResolve
Community Corporation of Santa Monica
County of Los Angeles
EcoMotion
Heal the Bay
Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate
Action & Sustainability
Mid-City Neighbors
Northeast Neighbors
North of Montana Association
Office of Representative Richard Bloom
Office of Senator Ben Allen
RAND
Southern California Association of Governments
Santa Monica College
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Southern California Edison
Southern California Gas Company
Southern California Regional Energy Network
SustainableWorks
The Energy Coalition
UCLA Luskin Center for Policy Innovation
USC Sea Grant

STEERING COMMITTEE & PARTNERS
Gleam Davis , Mayor
Terry O’Day, Mayor Pro Tempore
Ana Maria Jara
Kevin McKeown
Greg Morena
Sue Himmelrich
Ted Winterer
Pam O'Connor (1994-2018)

CITY COUNCIL
Mark Gold, Chair
Erik Neandross, Vice Chair
Garen Baghdasarian
Robert Lempert
Susan Mearns
David Pettit

TASK FORCE ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Mario Fonda-Bonardi, Chair
Leslie Lambert, Vice Chair
Amy Nancy Anderson
Nina Fresco
Shawn Landres
Richard McKinnon
Jason Parry

PLANNING COMMISSION
Grace Sadye Phillips, Chair
Thomas Cleys, Vice Chair
Hans Baumann
Robin Carmichael
Gloria Garvin
Armando Martinez
Ellis Raskin

URBAN FOREST TASK FORCE
Barry Engelman, Chair
Kathryn G. Kietzman, Vice Chair
Leigh Alan Brumberg
Barbara Jane Browning
Elliot Goldberg
Paula Fern
Lynn Strother
Willa Faye Wells

COMMISSION FOR THE SENIOR

COMMUNITY
Marielle Krisel, Chair
Nanci Linke-Ellis, Vice Chair
Glenda Berg
Dee Capelli
June Carol Hagan, PhD
Thomas John Hill
Christy Hobart
Kathryn Kosmeya-Dodge
Lauri Ringer
Kelly S. Siegel
Delbert A Whetter, JD, MBA

DISABILITIES COMMISSION
Credit: Justin Han

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Garrett Wong, Sr. Sustainability Analyst
Dean Kubani, Chief Sustainability Officer
Shannon Parry, Sustainability Administrator
Ariana Vito
Drew Lowell-Johnstone
James Velez-Conway
Andrew Basmajian
Amanda Grossman
Karl Bruskotter
Thomas Fleming
Karina Sandique
Salvador Gonzalez
Neal Shapiro
Russell Ackerman
Angela Von Slomski
Jennifer Simmons
Jessica Hanna
Mikhael Matossian (15/16)
Delia Tyrell (16/17)
Samantha Rosenbaum (16/17)
Michael Consunji (17/18)
Maansi Shah (17/18)
Yuval Pearl (18/19)

CIVICSPARK FELLOWS

PRIMARY AUTHOR

OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY &

THE ENVIRONMENT
DNV-GL
Global Green
Raimi & Associates
Fehr & Peers
Francie Stefan, Mobility Manager
Colleen Stoll
Jing Yeo, Planning Manager
Liz Bar-El
Cary Fukui
Peter James
Rachel Kwok
Roxanne Tanemori

CONSULTANTS

PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT
Susan Cline, Director
Delana Gbemekama, Communications & Marketing Coordinator Sergio Ramirez, Principal Administrative Analyst
Chris Celsi, Resource Recovery & Recycling Manager
Chris Dishlip, Facilities Maintenance Manager, Acting City Architect
Alex Nazarchuk, Water Resources Manager
Matthew Wells, Public Landscape Manager
Rick Valte, City Engineer

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Cover: City of Santa Monica. Pg. 2: Eric Staudenmaier, Stefan Corbel, Justin Han, Iwan Baan for Community Corporation of Santa Monica, City of Santa Monica. Pg 5: Downtown
Santa Monica, Pg 6: William Short. Pg 10:  William Short; Pg 12: Kristina Sado, Justin Han.; Pg 13: City of Santa Monica, Gabor Ekecs,  WeWork. Pg 17: City of Santa Monica; Pg 20:

Iwan Baan for Community Corporation of Santa Monica; Pg 25: Terra24. Pg 29: Kristina Sado; Pg 35: City of Santa Monica; Pg 41: Santa Monica Daily Press. Pg 42: Justin Han. Pg 46:

City of Santa Monica; Pg. 50: Justin Han. Pg. 51: City of Santa Monica. Pg. 53: Kristina Sado; Pg. 54: Climate Cents. Pg 57:

Justin Han. Pg. 58: Justin Han, Pg. 55: City of Santa Monica

PHOTO CREDITS
Credit: William Short

CONTENTS

T A B L E O F
9 7
19 35
58 63

INTRODUCTION

P A THWAY TO C AR BON NEU TR A LI TY

ZERO NE T C AR BON BUI LDINGS

ZERO WAS TE

SUS T AIN A B LE MO BI LI TY

CLIMATE ACTION

OUR C LIM A TE A C TION VISION

C LIM A TE RE ADY COMMUNI TY

WA TER SE L F-SU F FI CIEN CY

CO AS T A L F LOODING PREP AREDNESS

CLIMATE ADAPTATION

LOW C AR BON FOOD & E COSYS TEMS

C LIM A TE CH ANGE IN S AN T A MONI C A

C LIM A TE LE ADERSHIP

DEVE LOPING THE P L AN

P L AN A T A G L AN CE

IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN

CONCLUSION

HOW TO RE AD THE P L AN
10 12
11 13
14 16
17 20
29 25
36 46
42 50
53 COMMUNI TY THEMES
6 LETTER FROM THE MAYOR

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

LETTER FROM THE MAYOR
In recent years, California has experienced historic drought, higher average temperatures, heat waves, and devastating wildfires and mudslides. Climate change is no longer a threat in a distant future. It is here now. And it will get worse unless we act.

Climate change is a global issue that requires all governments to act, no matter their size. Unfortunately, it appears that not every level of government recognizes the problem or is willing to act on it.  Accordingly, cities have emerged as front-line leaders in the fight against climate change.

Santa Monica has long been a leader in promoting sustainability and tackling climate change. In 2016, we reduced our carbon emissions 20% below 1990 levels, a goal the State of California seeks to achieve by 2020.

We have the tools to achieve carbon neutrality and meet the Paris Climate Agreement by 2050 or sooner, and still our toolkit is expanding. New developments in the energy and mobility industries are pushing the City to innovate and adapt to these new opportunities which will help Santa Monica reach its goals.

This Climate Action & Adaptation Plan looks ahead to the ambitious goals and transformation we need to achieve and lays the groundwork for embracing innovation and disruption. By achieving the objectives laid out in the plan, we will achieve an 80% reduction in our emissions below 1990 levels by 2030. This will give us momentum to achieve carbon neutrality well before 2050.

In addition to reducing emissions, we also recognize the need to adjust to our changing climate and prepare for more frequent and intense climate change impacts. This plan also provides a pathway to enhance our community resilience and infrastructure to be climate ready.

The next few years are critical to reducing our carbon emissions so we can avoid the worst climate change impacts. This transformation will disrupt the status quo and require community investment in the goal and a willingness to change behaviors. This plan is a call to action for our government, businesses, and residents.

Great challenges offer great opportunities. We must be bold, ambitious, and daring. We know that this transition to a carbon-free future will improve our quality of life, our community wellbeing, and our prosperity. We invite you to join us and participate in this communitywide effort.

GLEAM DAVIS, MAYOR
6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Cities are on the front lines when it comes to climate
change. Cities are also leading the world in reducing
carbon emissions through aggressive policies and
adoption of clean technologies.

Santa Monica’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (Plan)
builds off of its success and legacy as a sustainable
community to move closer to carbon neutrality, by
establishing an interim goal of reducing carbon emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030.

The Plan is the product of collaboration and engagement with the public, businesses, stakeholder groups, and
subject matter experts from academia, industry and
interdepartmental staff representatives. It provides an ambitious, community-focused platform to advance
policies that enhance quality of life and wellbeing,
embrace smart city innovation and improve social equity.

The Plan focuses on eight objectives in three sectors to reduce emissions: Zero Net Carbon Buildings, Zero Waste and Sustainable Mobility. Early action is required to avoid significant cost and social and environmental risks to our community. In addition to California's policies, like the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the Renewable Portfolio
Standard, these actions are estimated to achieve the
Plan's estimated 80% reduction.
7 Between 1990 and 2015, Santa Monica reduced its
emissions by 276,324 metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalents (mtCO2e) to achieve 20% below 1990 levels at a rate of 0.8% per year. In order to achieve an 80%
reduction by 2030, Santa Monica would need to reduce
total emissions by about 929,693 mtCO2e, at a rate of over 4% per year, significantly increasing the scale and speed of reductions. This 'bending of the carbon curve' is
essential to meeting the Paris Climate Agreement and
avoiding worsened climate change impacts.

The Plan provides a roadmap to advance the goals across programmatic and departmental lines. In many cases, the actions described also require new community and
regional partnerships to develop and test new strategies that will build on Santa Monica’s leadership role in
sustainability and innovation. These key actions identify what can be accomplished within the next decade to
continue progress toward the goal of achieving carbon
neutrality by 2050 or sooner.

Observed Emissions
80% below 1990 levels
20% below 1990 levels
Climate Action
Reductions

SANTA MONICA'S PATH TO CARBON NEUTRALITY
Annual Carbon Emissions (MMtCo2e)
STATE POLICIES 50% of total reductions
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Low Carbon Fuel Standard
Building Energy Standards
ZERO NET CARBON BUILDINGS 21% of total reductions
Achieve 100% renewable grid electricity
Install 100 MW of local solar energy
Reduce fossil fuel use 20% in existing buildings
Discourage fossil fuels in new buildings
ZERO WASTE 3% of total reductions
Divert 95% of materials from landfills
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY 26% of total reductions
Convert 50% of local trips to foot, bike, scooter &
skateboard
Convert 25% of commuter trips to transit
Convert 50% of vehicles to electric or zero emission
8 Even if all emissions were eliminated today, we would still see climate change impacts in the future. The chart above shows the anticipated changes, hazards and
impacts Santa Monica may face.

Not everyone will experience climate change the same.

The people who are older, have chronic respiratory
illnesses, are lower on the socio-economic spectrum, or speak English as a second language are likely to be
impacted the hardest by climate change and may be
the least able to adapt and prepare.

The Plan lays out a framework for enhancing Santa
Monica’s resilience to climate change through four
sectors: Climate Ready Community,  Water SelfSufficiency, Coastal Flooding Preparedness and Low Carbon Food & Ecosystems. The Plan identifies areas in
local government, community building and support to
augment by including climate change considerations
and adaptation measures.

Increased Temperature
Fluctuations in
Precipitation
Sea Level Rise
Extreme Heat Events
Worsened Air Quality
Increased Drought
Increased Wildfire
Increased Coastal Flooding

GRADUAL CLIMATE CHANGES LOCAL CLIMATE HAZARDS
Heat-related illness or death
Power outages
Asthma & respiratory impacts
Water shortages
Increased utility rates
Property loss & damage
School & business disruption
Transportation impacts
Increased beach tourism & congestion
Crop loss & increased food prices

DIRECT IMPACTS
Through the last two adopted Capital Improvement
Program budgets, Santa Monica has already committed
to spending $383M on climate action and adaptation
projects. Staff estimate that implementation of the plan will cost an additional $800M-$1B over the next 10-12
years, with some projects and programs still not fully
conceived.

The investment by the community to support the Plan
will be many times greater than the City's own costs. The City will need to provide support to residents and
businesses in need of funding to decarbonize their
buildings, vehicles and lifestyles. At the same time, it should discourage carbon-emitting activities through
fee-based systems or carbon taxes to shift community
investment away from fossil fuels to clean technologies.

In order to ensure full implementation of the plan, an
interdepartmental team of city staff in collaboration
with civic leaders must be assembled to maintain
momentum and ensure accountability. Staff will provide
annual progress reports, conduct biennial greenhouse
gas inventories and prepare an update to the plan after 5 years.

This plan provides a pathway to accelerate our historical success to eventually make climate change history. It is also a call to action to residents, community institutions and businesses to take an active part in our transition to a low carbon future and clean economy.

In this process, we will foster a vibrant economy,
increase our resiliency and support Santa Monica’s vision for a livable and sustainable community for generations to come.

Increase community resilience to
climate change
Protect vulnerable groups from
impacts
Integrate climate change impacts
into City planning, operations &
infrastructure projects
Achieve water self-sufficiency by 2023
Enhance natural systems to prevent
damage from coastal flooding
Increase resilience of public and
private assets in coastal flood zone
Increase self-reliance through local
food production
Reduce or sequester carbon emissions
from food production, consumption,
waste and landscape management
and natural processes

CLIMATE READY

COMMUNITY
WATER SELFSUFFICIENCY

COASTAL

FLOODING

PREPAREDNESS

LOW CARBON
FOOD &

ECOSYSTEMS
Cities are uniquely threatened by climate
change and are uniquely positioned to do
something about it.

INTRODUCTION
Cities are on the front lines when it comes to climate change impacts. Cities also have significant roles to play in the fight against climate change.

Santa Monica has long held ambitious sustainability goals and took early actions to meet them. We are on track to become a water self-sufficient community by 2023 and a zero waste community by 2030. We are also on track to keep peak hour vehicle trips at or below 2009 levels, as targeted in the City's General Plan. All of these efforts contribute to our carbon reduction goals.

Since 1990 we have seen a 20% reduction in our carbon emissions. At the same time, we increased local employment by over 50%, demonstrating that a cleaner and more prosperous economy is possible.

An 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 will require a massive shift in our lifestyles and investments. Deep emissions reductions will need to be achieved at a scale and pace unlike the City has seen before. This plan provides a road map to transition to low-carbon lifestyles and technologies and significantly reduce our fossil fuel consumption.

Even if all emissions were eliminated today, we would still see climate change impacts in the future. This plan also outlines a strategy to build resilience by developing strategies to prepare, adapt and respond to unavoidable impacts.

By achieving the objectives of this plan, we will be joining a global movement of communities doing their part to fight climate change. Ultimately, the benefits of our actions will be local: we will improve our quality of life and ensure a stable climate for generations to come.

CHANGES BETWEEN
1990-2015
JOBS
UP 51%

EMISSIONS
DOWN 20%
9 In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner, we are committing to an interim goal of 80% reduction of emissions below 1990 levels by 2030.

It is 2030, we have reduced our carbon emissions
80% below 1990 levels. All of our electricity comes
from renewable sources. Mobility options are zero
carbon, shared and active, reducing congestion and
air pollution. Nearly all of our waste is reused,
repurposed or recycled.

There is a culture of awareness and action. We
utilize smart city technology and principles to
advance efficiency in our energy and transportation
systems and infrastructure.

Our prosperous economy and quality of life have
benefited from this transformation. We are
connected, equitable and resilient.

OUR CLIMATE

ACTION VISION

CLIMATE LEADERSHIP

PLEDGE &

COMMIT REPORT

LEAD, ADVOCATE &

COLLABORATE
Santa Monica has committed to meeting the goals of the
Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius and pursue action to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. C40's Deadline 2020 Commitment offers a
global pathway of city-level, inclusive climate action, that would put cities on a trajectory consistent with the
ambitions of the Paris Agreement from now until the end of the century.

Meeting this increased ambition requires
transformational actions to reduce transportation
emissions, improve building energy efficiency,  increase the supply of green energy, and change consumption
Former Mayor Ted Winterer signing the C40 Deadline
2020 Commitment at the 2018 Global Climate Action
Summit in San Francisco. (Credit: Chris Menges)
patterns, while strengthening the ability to deal with the impacts of climate change through adaptation.

Santa Monica is committed to pursuing aggressive action and publicly reporting our efforts to increase awareness and maintain accountability.

We publicly report our progress and actions through
various platforms and collaborate with local governments around the world to advance best practices in
sustainability and climate action.
10 DEVELOPING THE PLAN
This plan was developed over a 3-year period using extensive analysis, modeling, stakeholder input, and community engagement to ensure buy-in and feasibility.

A Steering Committee representing City staff, local
institutions, community groups and regional experts
provided guidance and feedback throughout the
project

STEERING COMMITTEE
City staff and consultants modeled various scenarios of future carbon emissions, taking into account population changes and statewide policies. The team developed
strategies to estimate the potential carbon reductions of Santa Monica’s future efforts. These measures were
prioritized by the Steering Committee.

EMISSIONS ANALYSIS
Presentations were given at 19 community and
business meetings reaching approximately 300
people. These included various meetings of
neighborhood associations, community
organizations, church groups, business improvement
districts and business events.

Climate Action Santa Monica, a grassroots climate
organization, leads the ‘Climate Corps’ program
offering summer internship and volunteer
opportunities for students and young adults, The
Climate Corps gauge resident and visitors' concerns
about climate change issues and support for the City’s
climate policies.

COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS

CLIMATE CORPS YOUTH PROGRAM
Augmented reality viewers were installed on the
Santa Monica Pier, providing residents and visitors a
view into a future with sea level rise. Over 10,000
participants were surveyed on their climate change
concerns and adaptation preferences.

SEA LEVEL RISE AUGMENTED REALITY
In 2016, Santa Monica held its first ever Community
Climate Action Summit, inviting residents, visitors and businesses to contribute to the plan. Over 250
individuals participated in the day-long event filled
with expert speakers, interactive workshops, open
discussion and exhibitors. Following on the success of
the Community Climate Action Summit, the City held
ClimateFest in May 2018. The event featured local
experts on climate policy and provided accessible
resources for individual climate action. Over 600
people attended, interacting with various themes of
the plan.

COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT
& CLIMATEFEST
12 Vulnerable groups are often the least able to access resources and least likely to have a seat at the table when policies are developed. In the transition to a low-carbon future, we must create a future that is accessible to all Santa Monicans.

The policies outlined in this plan will use an equity lens to prioritize the needs of low-income communities and communities of color ensuring the just distribution of the benefits while addressing unequal burdens from climate change.

The people who are the most impacted by climate change and the least likely to be engaged in civic affairs tend to be older, people of color, lower on the socio-economic spectrum, and/or don’t speak English as their native language. Rising temperatures and worsening air quality disproportionately impact these vulnerable populations. Additionally, each of these communities have different needs.

Policy-making and program design must address both the systems that worsen climate change and inequality while reducing the disproportionate impact of climate change on the vulnerable.

Resilience is the ability of a community to withstand chronic stressors or sudden shocks, and grow and thrive beyond; and is a function of both wellbeing and sustainability. Wellbeing and environmental stewardship go hand in hand when fostering a more resilient city and improving quality of life.

Santa Monica’s Wellbeing Index measures individual and community wellbeing to help improve peoples' lives. The Wellbeing Index and the Sustainable City Plan have been integrated into The Framework for a Sustainable City of Wellbeing to guide City decision-making and investments using performance-based metrics.

By strengthening our social connections, mobility systems, buildings and infrastructure, Santa Monica will enhance its ability to withstand and recover from earthquakes, drought and heatwaves.

This plan recommends that the City adopt a Smart City Strategy to advance technologies in City infrastructure and leverage public-private partnerships that foster community goals.

Smart technologies, such as cloud-based sensors for buildings, traffic signals and waste bins, can allow local governments to provide services faster and more efficiently while reducing energy use and carbon emissions.

Smart technologies and infrastructure will create opportunities to improve resource efficiency and performance, while enhancing customer service, safety and wellbeing in the digital age.

SUSTAINABILITY, WELLBEING & RESILIENCE

EQUITY IN CLIMATE ACTION

SMART CITY INNOVATION
Climate change and climate action affects all levels of City government and community issues. A plan that addresses climate change and community resilience is a plan that creates a more livable community.

COMMUNITY THEMES
13 PATHWAY TO CARBON NEUTRALITY
Santa Monica's carbon emissions are generated primarily from fossil fueled transportation and energy use in
buildings.

The City conducted a greenhouse gas (carbon) emissions
inventory to evaluate the impact of the 15x15 Climate
Action Plan (CAP). At the end of 2015, Santa Monica’s
annual emissions had declined by 20% compared to
1990 levels, exceeding the City’s 15% target. The 15x15 CAP actions and State level policies, such as increased renewable energy generation and vehicle fuel efficiency, resulted in the decline.

SANTA MONICA'S
CARBON EMISSION SOURCES (2015)

BUILDING

ENERGY USE

LANDFILLED
WASTE

AVIATION
FUEL

VEHICLE

TRANSPORTATION
30%
3%
2%
64%
Currently, per capita emissions is approximately 11.1
mtCO2e (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent). If
Santa Monica reduces its emissions to 80% below 1990
levels, per capita emissions would be 2.3 mtCO2e.

A dramatic transformation of our building energy and
transportation systems will be necessary to achieve this significant reduction.

Between 1990 and 2015, Santa Monica
reduced its emissions by 276,324 mtCO2e
to achieve 20% below 1990 levels at a
rate of 0.8% per year.

In order to achieve an 80% reduction by
2030, Santa Monica would need to
reduce total emissions by about 929,693
mtCO2e, at a rate of over 4% per year,
significantly increasing the scale and
speed of reductions. This 'bending of the
carbon curve' is essential to meeting the
Paris Climate Agreement and avoiding
worsened climate change impacts.

These charts (this page and next)
illustrate the relative impact each
Climate Action sector in contributing to
the 2030 target.

BENDING THE CARBON
CURVE
Carbon Emissions (millions mtCO2e)
Observed Emissions
80% below 1990 levels
20% below 1990 levels

SANTA MONICA'S PATH TO CARBON NEUTRALITY
Climate Action
Reductions
(see next page)
14 Annual Carbon Emissions (MMtCo2e)
If left unabated, population and economic growth by 2030 would increase Santa Monica’s emissions.

STATE POLICIES
California's ambitious climate policies (such as
the Renewable Portfolio Standard and vehicle
fuel efficiency standards) are expected to
reduce Santa Monica’s emissions by an
estimated 33% below 1990 levels by 2030.

ZERO NET CARBON BUILDINGS
Achieve 100% renewable grid electricity
Install 100 MW of local solar energy
Reduce fossil fuel use 20% in existing buildings
Discourage fossil fuels in new buildings

ZERO WASTE
Divert 95% of materials from landfills

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
Convert 50% of local trips to foot, bike,
scooter & skateboard
Convert 25% of commuter trips to transit
Convert 50% of vehicles to electric or zero
emission

BUSINESS-AS-USUAL
21%
50% 3%
26%
Projected Carbon Emissions (mtCO2e)

SANTA MONICA

PROJECTED CARBON EMISSIONS

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS

ZERO WASTE

SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY

STATE POLICIES

CLIMATE ACTION

REDUCTIONS
232,035 mtCO2e
27,847 mtCO2e
289,837 mtCO2e
547,786 mtCO2e
Target: 80% below 1990 levels

BUSINESS-AS-USUAL
15 (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or mtCO2e)

PLAN AT A GLANCE
The CAAP is a guiding document that provides overarching policy direction to achieve the interim goal of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2030 and to increase Santa Monica's resilience to climate change hazards and impacts. This plan supports and enhances many existing plans and initiatives within the City. The CAAP also suggests new plans and actions to supplement ongoing efforts and create new initiatives.
16 CLIMATE ADAPTATION

ZERO NET
CARBON

BUILDINGS
Convert 50% of local trips to foot, bike, scooter
& skateboard
Convert 25% of commuter trips to transit
Convert 50% of vehicles to electric or zero
emission

SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY
ZERO WASTE Divert 95% of materials from landfills
WATER

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

COASTAL

FLOODING

PREPAREDNESS

LOW CARBON
FOOD &

ECOSYSTEMS

CLIMATE ACTION

SECTOR OBJECTIVES

SECTOR OBJECTIVES

SUPPORTING EFFORT
Achieve 100% renewable grid electricity
Install 100 MW of local solar energy
Reduce fossil fuel use 20% in existing buildings
Discourage fossil fuels in new buildings
Zero net energy for new residential
construction (2017)
Mandatory solar for new commercial
construction (2017)
Land Use & Circulation Element
(2010)
Bike Action Plan (2011)
Pedestrian Action Plan (2016)
Electric Vehicle Action Plan (2017)
Plastic Bag Ban (2011)
Zero Waste Strategic Operations
Plan (2014)
Disposable Food Serviceware
Ordinance (2018)
All Hazards Mitigation Plan (2015)
Santa Monica Organizations Active
in Disaster (2018)
Water Neutrality Ordinance (2017)
Sustainable Water Master Plan (2018)
Local Coastal Program Land Use
Plan (2018)
Urban Forest Master Plan (2015)

SUPPORTING EFFORT
Increase community resilience to climate
change
Protect vulnerable groups from impacts
Integrate climate change impacts into City
planning, operations & infrastructure projects
Achieve water self-sufficiency by 2023
Enhance natural systems to prevent damage
from coastal flooding
Increase resilience of public and private assets
in the coastal flood zone
Increase self-reliance through local food
production
Reduce or sequester carbon emissions from
food production, consumption, waste and
landscape management and natural
processes

CLIMATE READY

COMMUNITY
The CAAP is not an element of the City’s General Plan or a regulatory document for the purposes of streamlining the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process. Any policy or ordinance described in the CAAP must be developed and adopted through a public review process.

HOW TO READ THE PLAN

STRATEGIES & ACTIONS

COST TO CITY
The general approach, programs, policies and steps that help achieve each Objective.

Cost to the City represents the direct costs that may be borne by the City, currently not allocated or budgeted
within the existing operating budget, to implement the
programs, policies and steps. Costs include consultants, new programs, incentives and grants, and infrastructure. Does not consider potential for outside sources of funds.

High Capital Cost; Requires large one-time
investment or sustained investment; outside
sources of funding necessary
Medium Cost; Potential funding through Capital
improvement Program, may be supported with
outside funding
Low or No Cost; potential funding from existing
budget
ZNC1: Implement a Community Choice Energy (CCE)
Program
OSE
R
G
Initiated

SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ENERGY
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
CPA
Implement CCE in Santa Monica, offering the highest
amount of cost-competitive renewable energy. Develop
programs to incentivize new local renewable-energy
projects. Adopt rates to achieve 100% renewable energy
by 2025.

Large Reduction
Medium Reduction
Small Reduction
Marginal
Reduction

CARBON REDUCTION POTENTIAL
Each Action displays a potential reduction in carbon
emissions. Reduction potential was approximated relative to each sector and is presented using a 1 to 4 scale.

PARTNERS
City division, non-City entity or community sector
responsible for supporting implementation,
collaboration, evaluation and reporting of action.

LEAD
City division responsible for leading implementation,
collaboration, evaluation and reporting of action.

ASD
BBB
BM
BSD
CCS
CED
CPD
CRD
EDD
FD
FIN
FacMD
FMD
HD
HSD
ISD
MD
OEM
OSE
OWB
PLD
PWD
RRR
WRD
= Architecture Services Division
= Big Blue Bus
= Beach Manager
= Building & Safety Division
= Community & Cultural Services Department
= Civil Engineering Division
= City Planning Division
= Community Recreation Division
= Economic Development Division
= Fleet Division
= Finance Department
= Facilities Maintenance Division
= Farmers Market Division
= Housing Division
= Human Services Division
= Information Systems Department
= Mobility Division
= Office of Emergency Management
= Office of Sustainability & the Environment
= Office of Civic Wellbeing
= Public Landscape Division
= Public Works Department
= Resource Recovery & Recycling Division
= Water Resources Division

CITY DEPARTMENTS & DIVISIONS
= Local businesses, property owners
= California Department of Transportation
= California Coastal Commission
= California Energy Commission
= Clean Power Alliance of Southern California
= California Public Utilities Commission
= Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority
= Metropolitan Water District
= Local environmental/sustainability organizations
= South Coast Air Quality Management District
= Southern California Edison, Southern California
Gas Company
= Santa Monica College, Santa Monica-Malibu
Unified School District, private schools, teachers
Business
Caltrans
CCC
CEC
CPA
CPUC
Metro
MWD
Nonprofits
SQAMD
Utilities
Schools

NON-CITY PARTNERS

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2
3 4
5 6
7 Details on next page.

STATUS OR TIMEFRAME
Near term = 0-2 years
Mid term = 2-5 years
Long term = 5+ years
17 13

COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Actions and policies that prevent and prepare for climate change also reduce pollution, improve public health and support a local green economy that benefits the entire community. This plan will seek to achieve not only the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, but also address community concerns such as systemic inequities, sources of negative public health issues and community cohesion. Nearly all of the Actions in this plan generate additional community benefits and support the City's Framework for a Sustainable City of Wellbeing (Framework).

Advances Smart City Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings, Local
Investment and Jobs
Enhances Environmental Quality
Meets Paris Climate Agreement
Action has high carbon reduction potential
to reduce emissions necessary to meet 1.5C
global warming limit of the Paris Climate
Agreement.

Action supports deployment of smart
city technology in City operations and
private sector.

Action requires investment in local
projects and programs, creating local
green jobs. Action may also yield cost
savings from utilities, transportation costs
or avoided waste. May support Economic
Opportunity outcomes and metrics from
the Framework.

Action has potential to foster green
spaces & infrastructure and/or improve air
quality, habitat & biodiversity, May
support Place & Planet outcomes and
metrics from the Framework.

Potential to Address Equity
G
City Government Leadership
R
Enhances Community Resilience
Improves Public Health & Safety
Action has potential to reduce
environmental injustice or be designed
and implemented to prioritize unequally
burdened and vulnerable populations.

Action has potential to increase resilience
of buildings & infrastructure and/or
people through social networks and
increased capacity.

Action has potential to improve public
health through improved environmental
quality, increased access to healthy food,
reduced pollution. Action may also
improve public safety through energy
resilience, and protected pedestrian &
biking infrastructure. May support Health
and Safety outcomes and metrics from the
Framework.

City of Santa Monica will implement action
in City operations to demonstrate
leadership to the community and beyond.

Credit: William Short

CLIMATE ACTION

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS
Achieve 100% renewable grid
electricity
Install 100 MW of local solar energy
Reduce fossil fuel use 20% in
existing buildings
Discourage fossil fuels in new
buildings
ZERO WASTE Divert 95% of materials from
landfills

SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY
Convert 50% of local trips to foot,
bike, scooter & skateboard
Convert 25% of commuter trips to
transit
Convert 50% of vehicles to electric
or zero emission

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS
2030 OBJECTIVES
Achieve 100% renewable grid electricity
Install 100 MW of local solar energy
Reduce fossil fuel use in existing
buildings by 20%
Discourage use of fossil fuels in new
buildings

OF TOTAL

REDUCTIONS
21%

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS
Buildings generate 30% of Santa Monica's total
carbon emissions from their use of energy.

Electricity is generated from a mixture of fossil fuel
and renewable energy sources, and natural gas is
used for cooking, water and space heating.

In 2017, Santa Monica became the first city in the
world to require that newly constructed homes
generate as much energy as they consume. This
Zero Net Energy (ZNE) requirement still allowed for
the use of natural gas.

In 2019, Santa Monica started to receive 100%
renewable energy from the Clean Power Alliance.

This action has the potential to reduce the city's
emissions by 19% from present day. (See next page)
As the grid supply of electricity becomes cleaner,
the next carbon source to eliminate is natural gas.

The majority of natural gas is consumed by
residents for cooking, and space and water heating.

In order to “decarbonize’ our buildings over time,
switching natural gas systems to electric powered
by renewable energy is essential. This is also known
as fuel switching or building electrification.

Electric appliances for water and space heating can
be cost effective and efficient, while providing
health and safety benefits through reduced indoor
air pollution. Targeted incentives, regulations and
educational resources will be essential to
transforming the way we heat our buildings and
water.

Where fuel switching is not viable, the City could
explore alternative and renewable sources of gas —
like landfill gas and waste-to-energy gas— or
requiring the use of offsets or in lieu fees for carbon reduction projects.

Reducing building energy use remains a priority to
reduce costs and increase the resilience of
buildings. Currently less than 2% of Santa Monica’s
electricity needs are met by solar systems on local
rooftops. Increasing local solar will require
addressing energy efficiency as well as advanced
systems like district energy heating and cooling
systems, microgrids and battery storage.

While new construction provides opportunities for
innovation, the greatest potential for emissions
reductions lies in the buildings that are already
standing.

In order to reduce energy use and carbon emissions
in buildings, building owners first need to
understand their energy use. In 2018, the California
Energy Commission implemented AB 802
requiring buildings over 50,000 square feet to
benchmark their energy use. The City will
implement similar requirements for buildings over
20,000 square feet and include carbon reduction
targets for specific sectors.

In addition to regulations to disclose energy use and
carbon emissions, public-private partnerships will be
essential to increase the scale and speed of
improving energy performance in existing buildings.

The City will work with small and large property
owners to increase the demand for sustainable
energy retrofit services. Working together will
reduce the costs to individual property owners.

Web-based technologies and smart appliances will
also provide an opportunity to promote energyefficient behaviors and advance smart grid technology. Individuals and businesses could soon
be able to respond in real time to price signals for
beneficial energy behaviors.

TRANSFORMING THE BUILT

ENVIRONMENT

GETTING TO ZERO NET CARBON

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS

OF COMMUNITY

EMISSION SOURCES
(2015)
30% BUILDINGS

CONTRIBUTE
21 WHAT IS ENERGY RESILIENCE?
What does it mean to be "energy resilient”? Although there are many definitions of the concept, they all share the fundamental idea that energy supply should always meet energy demand and that energy supply needs to be constant – there can be no interruptions in the service.

Solar generates energy that can be used in buildings or fed back into the utility grid saving utility costs. But what happens during a power outage? To assume that a solar system would still work during a power outrage would be wrong.

Solar systems also need to be equipped with battery storage and a disconnect switch, which would allow buildings to store energy generated by the solar system, and then safely disconnect from the utility grid during a power outage, in order to operate independently.

What about natural gas? Gas-fired furnaces, boilers and space heaters produce heat by burning fuel oil or natural gas.

However, they too rely on electricity to distribute heated fluid or heated air. The control systems for these appliances may also require electricity. Some gas water heaters still rely on electricity and would only be able to supply the hot water remaining in the reservoir during a power outage.

Having the ability to generate, store and use energy independent of the utility grid, particularly during power outages that may be caused by extreme heat, wildfire or earthquakes, can help improve community resilience. If you already own a solar system, consider enhancing it with battery storage.

Diagram from EnergySage
1 Energy generated by solar panels is transmitted through the inverter into the battery for storage. 2 3
Energy from the battery passes through the inverter to the electric panel, which then supplies the building.

During a power outage, a disconnect switch (not pictured here) would disconnect the building electric panel from the utility meter and the utility grid.
1 2
3 ZNC2: Adopt a Sustainable Energy Master Plan
CPD, ASD Near Term
ZNC3: Pilot and Promote Distributed Energy Resources

ASD, CPA,
SCE
Ongoing
ZNC4: Increase Local Solar for Residential and
Commercial Tenants

ACTIONS
OSE
OSE
OSE CPA, SCE Near Term
Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
ZNC1: Implement a Community Choice Energy (CCE)
Program
OSE
R
G
Initiated

SUSTAINABLE LOCAL ENERGY
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
CPA
Implement CCE in Santa Monica, offering the highest
amount of cost-competitive renewable energy. Develop
programs to incentivize new local renewable-energy
projects. Adopt rates to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2025.

R
G
Develop a plan identifying citywide energy needs; and
systems or programs that meet local energy needs and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the neighborhood or
district level. Potential projects include microgrids, district energy systems, and community solar.

Pilot technologies like energy storage, vehicle-to-grid charging stations, web-enabled devices and microgrids
within City facilities evaluate their ability to reduce utility costs and carbon emissions.

R
G
Develop and advocate for programs and resources tailored to addressing the barriers faced by residential and
commercial tenants to installing renewable energy that
benefits their leased spaces.

R
G
Cost to City
In February 2019, Southern California took a big step toward a clean energy future. The Clean Power Alliance of Southern California (CPA) started serving Santa Monica residents, along with 30 cities and the counties of Ventura and Los Angeles, with electricity sourced from a higher content of renewable energy sources. Santa Monica’s residents and businesses (in May 2019) receive a default 100% renewable electricity.

CPA is the largest Community Choice Energy (CCE) program in California. CCE allows local governments to aggregate the buying power of individual customers to get alternative energy on a community-wide scale. CCE will play a critical role in accelerating the adoption of clean energy by creating programs that will support local renewable energy, building electrification and electric vehicles.

ZNC5: Adopt a Carbon Reduction Ordinance for
Existing Buildings
OSE Near Term

CPD, EDD,
Business,
Utilities,

CPA, CEC
R
G
Adopt a Carbon Reduction Ordinance to require energy
benchmarking and carbon performance of existing
buildings over 20,000 sq ft, including multifamily buildings.

Require a reduction of fossil fuel use of covered buildings by 15% in five years and elimination of fossil fuel use by 2050.

EXISTING BUILDING EFFICIENCY
CLEAN POWER COMES TO SANTA MONICA How Community Choice Energy (CCE) Works

ACTIONS
R
G
ZNC8: Adopt Carbon Neutral Construction Codes

CPD, BSD,
CEC, CCC OSE Mid Term
Require New Construction for commercial, mixed-use and
multi-family properties to achieve zero net carbon onsite or pay in-lieu carbon impact fee to offset fossil fuel use.

Require electric-ready construction for future electrification of appliances and buildings systems. Ensure that affordable housing developers have additional financing or
compliance alternatives available. Require new residential construction for single-family homes to use only electric appliances and building systems or pay in-lieu fee to
support more local renewable energy and electrification projects.

R
G
ZNC9: Convert Existing Natural Gas Equipment &
Appliances to Electric

CPA, SCE,
Business OSE Mid Term
Develop programs, resources and incentives to support
gas-to-electric conversion of appliances, hot-water
heaters and HVAC systems. Establish electrification
retrofit upon sale requirements for low-rise residential, and small multifamily and commercial buildings. Where
electrification of appliances is infeasible, or not a
customer choice, then a methane alternative such as
renewable natural gas could be an option.

R
G
ZNC10: Provide Educational & Workforce Cleantech
Opportunities
Partner with Santa Monica College and Santa Monica- OSE SCG Mid Term Malibu Unified School District to offer professional
development opportunities in the clean energy economy.

R
G
ZNC11: Create Equitable Access to Clean Energy
Programs
Partner with utilities and the Clean Power Alliance to OSE SCG Mid Term provide free home-energy audits and upgrade incentives
for low-income households and affordable housing
developers and property owners.

ESTIMATED 2030 NET ZERO CARBON BUILDINGS REDUCTIONS
ESTIMATED PERCENT OF TOTAL 2030 REDUCTIONS
232,035 mtCO2e
21%
ZNC6: Implement a Resilient Building Retrofit
Accelerator Program
R
G
ZNC7: Implement a Green Leasing Program
EDD,
Business OSE Near Term
OSE Near Term

CPD, EDD,
Business,
Utilities,

CPA, CCC
R
G
Develop an accelerator program to streamline the
delivery of energy retrofit services and technologies for public and private buildings. Reduce capital costs for
property owners by offering financing options and bulkpurchasing of technologies and services, Create partnerships to increase the speed and scale of energyretrofit measures across the city. Prioritize assistance to owners with fewer resources and less technical ability, including smaller buildings and nonprofits.

Develop a green leasing program to provide assistance
and incentives for introducing leases that support
investment in energy efficiency measures. Partner with
local stakeholders to engage commercial and residential property managers.

Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
EXISTING BUILDING EFFICIENCY Lead Timeframe

BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION

EQUITY THROUGH ENERGY

ZERO WASTE
95% of waste is diverted from the
landfill
2030 OBJECTIVE

OF TOTAL

REDUCTIONS
3%

ZERO WASTE
Becoming a zero waste community means
rethinking the way we consume and manage
materials and goods throughout their entire
lifecycle.

Santa Monica aims to eliminate landfilled waste
through reducing the amount of waste generated,
reducing consumption, limiting waste generation
and increasing recycling and composting.

Daily decisions to use reusable bags, bottles and
utensils can add up to a big impact. Limiting the
use of disposable goods will reduce the use of
natural resources, the strain on our waste
management infrastructure and the littering in
our neighborhoods and on our beaches.

Local regulations, like the City's single use plastic
bag and single use plastic food service ware bans,
have proven to be successful in changing and
individuals' behaviors and shifting markets away
from single use disposable products.

Education and awareness are essential to
ensuring everyone understands how they can
contribute to the solution by providing them
resources to be successful. Proper diversion
systems like collection bins and signage are also
crucial to support the needs of residents and
businesses, while ensuring proper separation of
recycling and organics streams.
“TO ROT OR NOT” MAIN STREET
PILOT
In 2016, City of Santa Monica piloted an organicsrecycling program called “To Rot or Not” on Main Street with participation of 172 businesses. This
program improved the way restaurants dispose of
their food waste by giving businesses two containers.

One is the “Rot” container which consists of materials
that breakdown naturally and can be composted. The
“Not” container is comprised of materials that cannot
breakdown naturally like aluminum, ceramics, and
sponges. These items are recycled or sorted for
landfill disposal.

This simplifies the material streams and reduces
contamination - or placement of non-recyclable or
non-compostable items in a recycling or composting
container.

ZERO WASTE
COMPOST: THE NEXT FRONTIER
Organic materials, like food scraps and yard waste,
are extremely valuable natural resources that can be
transformed into earth-enriching compost. However,
businesses and residents have historically been
provided limited options to sort and manage their
organic materials.

State regulations now require all commercial
properties and large residential properties to utilize
composting services.

To help residents and businesses, Santa Monicabased Global Green conducted waste audits, and provided food scrap pails, educational materials,
outreach and program implementation assistance for
apartment dwellers. The "Eco-Ambassador" program
is now being scaled up to include restaurants,
connecting unused food to community pantries.
3%

LANDFILLED WASTE

CONTRIBUTES

OF COMMUNITY

EMISSION SOURCES
(2015)
Eco-Ambassadors Program trains residents to
compost kitchen scraps (Source: Global Green)
26 ACTIONS

ELIMINATE LANDFILL WASTE
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
ZW1: Implement Citywide Organics Recycling
RRR OSE Near Term
Require waste diversion stations (trash, recycling,
composting) in all businesses. Develop outreach and
enforcement programs to ensure commercial and
residential organics recycling citywide.

Cost to City Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
Cost to City
Residents and businesses have the power to influence a global system that delivers the goods, foods, services - and by extension, the carbon - that they consume. Through our purchasing and consumption habits, we can reduce these emissions occurring elsewhere. Climate change happens on a global scale, so emissions reduced in another country or region is equally important as emissions reduced locally.

There are two lenses that cities can use to look at emissions:
● A sector-based inventory attributes all emissions to the location where the emissions occur. This is the recognized global standard for emissions reporting and action.
● A consumption-based inventory includes the emissions resulting from all consumption activities of a local community of residents. It attributes all emissions to the end consumer, including all emissions released along the supply chain. This is an emerging initiative that takes broader stock of a community’s climate impacts.

Research by C40, indicates that consumption-based carbon emissions are approximately 60 percent greater than the emissions generated within city boundaries. While cities do not have direct control over the embodied emissions of most goods and products, they do have many opportunities to design and promote more sustainable urban lifestyles that can help reduce these consumption-based emissions. As work on climate action expands at the City, opportunities to reduce embodied emissions and shift to low carbon consumption patterns will be explored.

THE CARBON WE CONSUME
Overlap between consumption-based emission
inventories and sector-based emission inventories
(Source: C40)
The chart on the left shows Santa Monica's
consumption-based emissions by zip code.

The emissions were estimated using the
U.C. Berkeley Cool Climate Network
methodology and local data where
available. The household footprints include
all direct and indirect greenhouse gas
emissions resulting from the life cycle of
energy, transportation, water, waste, food,
goods and services consumed by
households in a calendar year, in this case
2015.

Generally, people with higher income tend to
spend more money on goods, services and
transportation (especially air travel). People
with lower income tend to live in smaller
dwellings, accumulate less and take public
transportation regularly.

AVERAGE CONSUMPTION-BASED CARBON EMISSIONS

PER HOUSEHOLD
Annual Carbon Emissions
(mtCO2e)

ACTIONS

ELIMINATE LANDFILL WASTE
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
ZW11: Explore Waste-to-Energy Conversion
Technologies
OSE Mid Term Pilot decentralized systems that convert locally collected organic waste into usable energy or byproducts, like
compost.

RRR
ESTIMATED 2030 ZERO WASTE REDUCTIONS
ESTIMATED PERCENT OF TOTAL 2030 REDUCTIONS
27,847 mtCO2e
3%
R
G
ZW3: Institute Wet-Dry Sorting System for Businesses
RRR OSE Mid Term
Implement a wet-dry program that collects wet organic
waste separately from dry recyclable waste to more
businesses in order to increase waste diversion.

R
G ZW4: Implement Pricing Signals to Increase Diversion
RRR Mid Term Explore fees and fines to create more incentives for recycling and composting and discourage landfill waste.

R
G
ZW5: Increase Construction and Demolition Debris
Diversion Requirements
Explore fees and fines to create more incentives for RRR Mid Term recycling, composting and salvage, while discouraging
landfill waste. Provide educational resources to promote responsible demolition and deconstruction.

R
G
ZW6: Implement Material and Landfill Bans
OSE Mid Term
Ban divertible materials, such as yard waste and foods, from trash containers. Also keep out materials that cause litter, such as straws and other single-use items.

R
G
ZW7: Expand the Reuse and Repair Economy
RRR Mid Term
Expand programs like the Citywide Annual Yard Sale and
quarterly Repair Cafes to avoid wasting goods that are
lightly used or damaged. Develop new programs like
lending libraries for tools. Promote reusable wares for restaurants and individuals.

R
G
ZW8: Foster a Food Waste Prevention Network
OSE Mid Term
Convene businesses, non-profits and institutions to develop systems, networks and infrastructure to prevent food waste by fostering connections between sources of unwanted food and communities in need. Partner with local businesses, restaurants, grocery stores and non-profits to reduce food waste and recover edible food through networking and
smart phone applications.  Develop and maintain a map of fruit and nut trees to connect gleaners and foragers.

RRR, FMD,
Business,
Nonprofits
R
G
ZW9: Incentivize Reusable Containers and Packaging
OSE Mid Term
Promote and require packaging materials that are
compostable and recyclable. Incentivize grocery stores to sell bulk food to customers. Incentivize customers to bring their own reusable bags to the grocery store. Pilot
standardized to-go reusable container system for takeout.

RRR
OSE
R
G
ZW10: Support and Pilot Extended Producer
Responsibility Programs
Participate in campaigns and pilot programs that offer OSE Mid Term solutions for hard-to-recycle items, like mattresses and furniture.

RRR
R
G
ZW2: Zero Waste Outreach & Education
OSE,
Nonprofits,
Schools
RRR Ongoing
increase material sorting compliance in multiunit
dwellings and businesses through education, waste
audits, and enforcement. Recommend ways to reduce
consumption and increase composting and recycling.

REUSE ECONOMY

SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY
Convert 50% of local trips to foot, bike,
scooter or skateboard
Convert 25% of commuter trips to transit
Convert 50% of personal vehicles to
electric or zero emission
2030 OBJECTIVES

OF TOTAL

REDUCTIONS
26%

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

A NEW MODEL OF MOBILITY
Vehicle transportation contributes over 60% of
Santa Monica’s total carbon emissions.

According to field observations and resident
surveys, driving alone accounts for almost twothirds of all vehicle trips. Nearly one third of residential trips are one mile or shorter.

Increasing walking and biking can make
meaningful progress toward reducing emissions
and congestion in Santa Monica.

People are looking for new travel options with
less time in the car, lower cost and more
convenience. Now more than ever, people have
many mobility choices for local trips, whether on
train, foot, by bikeshare or even by electric
scooters. Mobility services can offer a safe and
convenient experience while reducing vehicle
use and emissions.

Local policies, infrastructure and incentives need
to encourage safety, convenience and affordable
options to all members of the community. This
will help residents lead car-lite or even car-free
lifestyles which help reduce vehicle trips and
emissions. Having convenient transit options will
shift away from historical subsidies to driving
through reallocating roadway space, using
pricing incentives, and emphasizing roadway
space efficiencies.

Mobility options are increasingly diverse, and
Santa Monica can lead in creating and
encouraging options, whether privately or
publicly operated.

SAFE STREETS FOR ALL
Santa Monica has actively created new bike
lanes, revised bus routes, and made streets more
walkable. But many residents still cite a sense of
vulnerability when walking and biking, frustration
with vehicle speeds and yielding to pedestrians,
and a desire for more short-distance on demand
services to support transit use.

Creating safer streets through protected and
connected pedestrian and biking facilities will be
key to facilitating walking  and biking as primary
transportation options for people of all ages and
abilities. In 2016, the City council adopted a
Vision Zero target for roadway safety (see call
out).

SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY
In addition to shifting people out of vehicles,
vehicles that remain on the road must transition
to electric or zero-emission technologies in order
to achieve significant emission reductions.

One major barrier is the lack of charging
infrastructure available for those who live in
apartment buildings and condos.

The City’s Electric Vehicle Action Plan provides a
strategic approach to supporting electric
vehicles for residents and commuters.

Expanding charging infrastructure will be key to
providing low-carbon fuel to the masses.

In 2015, the Big Blue Bus (BBB) reduced its
emissions from petroleum-based natural gas to
100% landfill methane gas. By 2020, BBB will
initiate a transition to electric buses to further
reduce its carbon footprint.

DECARBONIZED TRANSPORTATION
Santa Monica’s 2016 Pedestrian Action Plan
included the ambitious goal to reduce and
ultimately eliminate fatal and severe injuries
from roadway crashes known as “Vision Zero.”
Reaching this goal will require thoughtful
design and actions that affect the design of the
roadways, the behavior of roadway users,
enforcement of safety rules, and outreach
efforts..

Vision Zero will affect how we design, use, and
manage roadways and prioritize the safety of
pedestrians and other low-carbon emitting
road users.

SAFETY IN NUMBERS:

GETTING TO VISION ZERO
64%

VEHICLE

TRANSPORTATION

CONTRIBUTES

OF COMMUNITY

EMISSION SOURCES
(2015)
30 SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY

A CAR-FREE FUTURE
Living car-free is easier now than ever with a
wide variety of shared mobility and transit
options. Continuous focus on enabling car-free
and care-lite households will continue to make
sustainable transportation achievable for more
types of needs and households. Simultaneously
this supports wellbeing through increased
physical activity and reduced household cost
burdens.

The Land Use & Circulation Element (adopted
2010, updated 2015) sought to reduce vehicle
trips and carbon emissions and proactive
transportation measures. Over time, this will
encourage reduced vehicle ownership.

Programs like the Transportation Demand
Management Ordinance have increased tripreduction requirements for medium and large employers, and there are resources to help
businesses implement trip reduction plans.

Policies to increase the cost of driving and
parking will deter solo-driving and encourage
sustainable transportation. These policies must
be implemented so as not to disproportionately
impact lower-income populations. Additionally,
the City must consider the financial impacts
from historically reliable revenue sources like
parking fees.

Autonomous vehicles could offer an electrified
and shared option for some mobility needs, but
needs to be guided by proactive sustainable
policy and carefully managed to reduce vehicle
congestion, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and
keep roadways safe for all users.

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY
32 WALKING & BIKING

TRANSIT

MOBILITY SERVICES &

DEVICES

ZERO EMISSION

VEHICLES

FOSSIL FUEL

VEHICLES
Hierarchy of Preferred Mobility Options

A CLEAN MOVING ECONOMY
Trucks used for the movement of goods across
the region and state account for roughly 2-3% of
average daily trips along the 10 freeway. The
California Department of Transportation,
estimates that truck traffic will increase by 50%
by 2025, with no additional road capacity to
accommodate them.

Additionally, short distance delivery vehicles for
retail delivery increase local congestion as ecommerce and online shopping continues to grow.

In 2009, there was a single daily internet
purchase delivery for every 25 Americans. Today,
there’s one for every eight Americans. That
traffic is anticipated to double again by 2023  .

Today’s city streets and transportation networks
simply were not designed to handle this
additional flood of packages and freight trucks,
especially with the added pressure of next-day
or, in some cases, next-hour, delivery.

While the City has limited influence over
internet retailers and delivery services, it does
have an ability to allocate facilities and curb
space to make delivery and pick-up systems
more efficient for drivers and customers.

Systems like pick up lockers can reduce idling
for delivery trucks and package theft.

The City will need to explore systems and
partnerships that will reduce vehicle congestion,
encourage appropriate use of street and curb
space and reduce emissions from delivery
vehicles.

1. Professor José Holguín-Veras, Center of Excellence for Sustainable Urban Freight Systems at New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 1 SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
Mobility hubs are strategically
located transfer points that
feature facilities for multiple
transportation modes (such as
bikesharing, carsharing, and
transit) combined in one location.

MOBILITY HUB

MOBILITY DICTIONARY

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY
Provides members with access to
a vehicle for short-term – usually
by the hour – use.  Carshare
systems can publicly operated,
privately operated, or peer-topeer, one-way, round-trip, or floating in nature.

CARSHARING
Provides member with access to
a bike for short-term - usually by
the minute - use.  Bikeshare
systems can be publicly operated,
privately operated, peer-to-peer,
docked, dock-light, or dockless.

BIKESHARING
Involves adding additional
passengers to a trip that will
already take place. Such an
arrangement provides additional
transportation options for riders
while allowing drivers to fill
otherwise empty seats in their
vehicles.

CARPOOLING/

RIDE-SHARING/

VANPOOLING
Connects passengers with drivers
through online platforms who
use personal, non-commercial
vehicles.

RIDE-SOURCING/

RIDE-HAILING
Mobility solutions that are
consumed as a service. a
consumer-centric model of
people transportation. Travelers
are offered mobility solutions
based on their travel needs and
typically includes some sort of
journey planning.

MOBILITY AS A

SERVICE (MAAS)
Devices like bikes, electric bikes,
electric motor scooters, and
electric scooters are shared
among users.  They are typically
enabled by technology or mobile
app, and emerging services are
frequently run by private
companies.

DOCKLESS

MOBILITY DEVICES
Technology-enabled private
shuttle services, serve passengers
using dynamically generated
routes, usually between
designated stop locations rather
than door-to-door.

MICROTRANSIT
The landscape of mobility-as-a-service is changing almost every month. With so many options, you don't even need to own a vehicle! Before you go, know the lingo! 30 An innovative transportation
concept where all consumers can
access mobility, goods, and
services on demand by
dispatching or using shared
mobility, delivery services, and
public transportation solutions
through an integrated and
connected multi-modal network.

The most advanced forms of MOD
passenger services incorporate trip
planning and booking, real-time
information, and fare payment
into a single user interface.

MOBILITY ON
DEMAND
Sources: Shared Use Mobility Center; Susan
Shaheen, PhD
A vehicle that is capable of
sensing its environment and
moving with little or no human
input. Vehicles can feature
various levels of sophistication
and independence in
automation.

AUTONOMOUS

VEHICLES

ACTIONS

A NEW MODEL OF MOBILITY
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
SM1: Adopt a New Mobility Strategy
MD Near Term
Develop and adopt policies to govern local mobility
services, designate underutilized street space, adapt to technology innovations, implement pricing strategies
and foster regional integration.

R
G
SM2: Expand & Diversify Mobility Services & Devices
MD Business Near Term
Diversify Breeze fleet to include electric bicycles and offer options for people with different access and functional needs. Partner with operators of dockless devices to
expand mobility options that are safe, convenient and
affordable, and provide options for people with different needs. Improve shared-mobility services through open
marketplace opportunities, permitting systems, dedicated infrastructure and payment platforms that integrate
multimodal planning.

R
G
SM3: Expand Mobility Infrastructure
Business Near to Mid
Term
MD
Develop strategies and projects to use curb space as mobility hubs that can serve mobility-service providers.

Integrate smart-sensing and smart-charging technologies to monitor, inform and enable activities, like congestion pricing. Create tools to maximize street capacity and
efficiency for people.

R
G
SM4: Implement Parking Policies & Pricing
MD Near Term
Continue to actively review and adjust parking prices
citywide as market rates change, and revisit parking
management and construction policies to encourage
sharing existing resources. Analyze financial impacts and develop alternatives to decreased revenue from parking fees.

R
G
SM6: Complete Streets Network
MD Ongoing
Increase the extent and quality of the complete street
network and greenways to ensure residents and visitors
alike have safe, convenient, and affordable transportation options. Create designated bike lanes that are protected to provide greater safety and assurance for all riders.

Emphasize the movement of people with greater space
dedicated to space efficient and low emission modes of
transportation. Lower speed limits to improve safety.

Expand publicly owned spaces and work with property
owners to facilitate public access.

PCD,
PWD
Cost to City Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
Cost to City

SAFE STREETS FOR ALL
R
G
SM5: Sustainable Goods Movement & Delivery Services
Mid to Long
Term MD
Assess the local impacts of long distance and urban
delivery systems and vehicles on street capacity,
congestion and carbon emissions. Facilitate partnerships to explore ways to reduce delivery trips, prioritize bicycle delivery and smaller vehicles, idling while loading/
unloading and emissions from delivery vehicles.

Business
R
G
SM7: Expand Safe Routes Programs
MD Ongoing Expand the Safe Routes to School program to reach more schools, including private schools, and continue to pursue a Safe Routes for Seniors program.

Schools,
Nonprofits

ACTIONS

CONNECTED TRANSIT
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
R
G
SM9: Prioritize Mass Transit Services
Mid to Long
Term
MD
Support public mass transit through infrastructure and
service improvements. Dedicate lanes during rush hour
to Rapid Transit services. Advocate for regional
connectivity projects, like the Purple Line Extension and Bus Rapid Transit. Work with regional partners to expand the development of Bus Rapid Transit facilities
throughout the City.

R
G
SM10: Expand Citywide Transportation
Management Organization
MD Ongoing
Increase the scope of offerings and resources available via the TMO to employees/employers, residents, and visitors in order to increase the reach and impact of existing
transportation programs, facilities, and services.

R
G
SM11: Offer Incentives for Transit & Mobility Services
BBB Near Term
Increase ridership, mobility access and equity by
subsidizing fares for sustainable modes of transportation like transit, vanpool, carpool and micro-transit services, for youth, students, seniors and other underserved groups.

MD,
SCAQMD
ESTIMATED 2030 SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY REDUCTIONS
ESTIMATED PERCENT OF TOTAL 2030 REDUCTIONS
289,837 mtCO2e
26%
BBB,
Metro
G
SM8: Prioritize Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing
Ongoing CPD,
HD
Increase the housing-to-jobs ratio by prioritizing the
expansion and investment in affordable housing located
near dense transit hubs with limited parking, through
local zoning and incentives.

R
Nonprofits,
Business

SAFE STREETS FOR ALL
R G
SM12: Increase Charging Infrastructure for Electric
Vehicles and Electric Mobility Devices
OSE Ongoing
Expand network of off- and on-street public charging
stations to 1,000 ports by 2025. Provide charging stations that will accommodate a wide range of vehicle types
including bicycles, scooters and other mobility devices.

Provide outreach and additional incentives for renters, lower-income individuals and non-profit property owners.

Implement emerging best practices in EV technology,
including mobile charging, wireless charging, energy
storage, and web/smartphone applications.

VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION

MD, SCE,
CPA,
SCAQMD
R
G
SM14: Pilot Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Technologies
MD Mid Term
Develop protocols and policies for AV safety performance, AV City fleet vehicles, and AV commercial activities that protect all roadway users and reduce vehicle trips and
carbon emissions. Work with manufacturers to pilot
technologies on fixed routes with limited services that provide shared-ride and zero emission mobility solutions.

Consider opportunities to pilot or deploy AV technology in the Airport to park conversion, post-2028.

OSE, ISD,
Business
R
G
SM13: Expand Use of EVs in Carshare and Rideshare
Services
OSE Ongoing Develop public-private partnerships with carshare providers to provide access to electric vehicles, including neighborhood electric vehicles, to residents who may not be able to own an electric vehicle on their own.

SCAQMD
Business

CLIMATE ADAPTATION

CLIMATE READY

COMMUNITY
Increase community resilience to
climate change
Protect vulnerable groups from
impacts
Integrate climate change impacts
into City planning, operations &
infrastructure projects
WATER
SELF-SUFFICIENCY Achieve water self-sufficiency by 2023

COASTAL FLOODING

PREPAREDNESS
Enhance natural systems to prevent
damage from coastal flooding
Increase resilience of public and
private assets in coastal flood zone

LOW-CARBON FOOD
& ECOSYSTEMS
Increase self-reliance through local
food production
Reduce or sequester carbon
emissions from food production,
consumption, waste and landscape
management and natural processes

CLIMATE CHANGE

IN SANTA MONICA

THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED
Even if we halt all carbon emissions today, the carbon
emissions currently in the atmosphere will continue to
impact the climate. Sea-level rise and coastal flooding, extreme heat, drought, and declining air-quality will
increasingly affect Santa Monica directly. Each of these hazards impacts the city’s people, buildings,
infrastructure, environment, and economy in different
ways.

Santa Monica has implemented several measures to
increase its resilience against such impacts. This section offers a comprehensive response plan to climate change.

To start, a vulnerability assessment was conducted for all major asset categories in the city in conjunction with the top climate hazards.

The initiatives of this plan will increase the community’s ability to thrive in the face of intensifying climate hazards, leading to stronger neighborhoods and improved quality
of life for all residents.

Increased Temperature
Fluctuations in
Precipitation
Sea Level Rise
Extreme Heat Events
Worsened Air Quality
Increased Drought
Increased Wildfire
Increased Coastal Flooding

GRADUAL CLIMATE CHANGES LOCAL CLIMATE HAZARDS
Heat-related illness or death
Power outages
Asthma & respiratory impacts
Water shortages
Increased utility rates
Property loss & damage
School & business disruption
Transportation impacts
Increased beach tourism & congestion
Crop loss & increased food prices

DIRECT IMPACTS
Resilience is the capacity of individuals,
communities, institutions, businesses, and
systems to survive, adapt, and grow, no matter
what kinds of chronic stresses and acute
shocks they experience.

Shocks are typically considered single-event
disasters, such as fires, earthquakes, and
floods.

Stresses are factors that pressure a city on a
daily or reoccurring basis, such as chronic
food and water shortages, an overtaxed
transportation system, or homelessness
WHAT IS RESILIENCE?
Santa Monica will need dedicated public and
private partners, as well as significant additional
resources, to advance these initiatives and
implement comprehensive climate adaptation.
36 Santa Monica is expected to see increasing trends in extreme-heat days with an average of nine days above
87°F by mid-century and 22 days by the end of the
century.  At the 95°F threshold, Santa Monica is
projected to see an increase from 0 to 3 extremely hot
days per year by 2100  .

Extreme-heat events in California and the Los Angeles
region are becoming more frequent, more intense, and
are longer lasting—and the trend is expected to
continue as climate change worsens.

Extreme heat can exacerbate heat-related illnesses
and deaths, while also impacting communities
indirectly through energy disruption, and spikes in
energy prices, impacting affordability.

Certain populations such as the homeless, outdoor
workers, older adults, young children and infants,
pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses
are more susceptible to warmer temperatures and
heat-related illnesses.

For example, older adults may be at higher risk due to
reduced ability to acclimatize to changing
temperatures, diminished thirst response, and a higher
likelihood of chronic health conditions. Homeless
populations may not have access to indoor spaces to
get out of the sun and cool down.

EXTREME HEAT

AIR QUALITY
Air quality is strongly dependent on weather, and
climate change is expected to impact air quality
through warming temperatures and more frequent
episodes of stagnant air. Warmer temperatures from
climate change will increase the frequency of days
with unhealthy levels of ground level ozone.

Ozone is the main ingredient of smog. Ground-level
ozone is formed from the reaction of oxygencontaining compounds with other air pollutants in the presence of sunlight. The main sources of ozone are
trucks, cars, planes, trains, factories, farms,
construction, and dry cleaners.

Warming temperatures and lengthened growing
seasons can also lead to increased wildfires and aeroallergen levels, such as pollen, which can also worsen air quality.

According to CalEnviroScreen (right), California's
pollution and population vulnerability mapping tool,
Santa Monica concentration of ozone is higher than
53% of all census tracts in California.

A High Heat Event (HHE) is any heat event that generates public health impacts. Each local area has a unique HHE specific to its climate and the historical sensitivity of people in that area to past heat events.

Long-term preventative strategies to decrease heat impacts may include planting trees, improvements in the built
environment, rebate and home cooling programs, and efforts to strengthen social capital and connectivity at the neighborhood level.

Projected High Heat Events (Source Cal-ADAPT)
Pollution/Ozone Burden (Source CALENVIROSCREEN)
37 2
2 California Energy Commission. 2017. Cal-Adapt. Available at http://cal-adapt.org/.

Climate change is likely to increase the duration and
severity of droughts in California  . Increasing
temperatures and changing precipitation patterns
can create periods of abnormally dry weather that
can result in water-supply shortages and other
impacts.

In the present day, California already experiences
wide swings in precipitation from year to year, and
this variability is expected to continue under climate
change with fluctuations between wet years and dry
years.

Due to anticipated warmer temperatures, more
precipitation will fall as rain instead of snow, and
Southern California will have smaller windows of time
to capture stored water as snowpack.

Aside from directly impacting the availability of water, changes in the amount and frequency of precipitation
may affect hydropower production.  Likewise, changes
in weather patterns may impact growing conditions
and yields for crops.

These impacts may raise the price of basic goods and
services, increasing stress on lower-income
communities as they spend a greater proportion of
their income on food and utilities.

DROUGHT
Wildfires burning within 50 to 100 miles of Santa Monica routinely can cause air quality to be five to 15 times worse than normal, and often two to three times worse than the worst non-fire day of the year.

Although Santa Monica is not directly threatened by wildfire due to its surrounding urban buffer, the City is close to a number of mountain ranges where wildfire risks are
projected to increase due to climate change.  Wildfires stress fire and emergency management services across Los Angeles County, disrupt regional transportation and energy systems and worsen regional air quality.

While there is little Santa Monica can do to prevent wildfires directly, we support wildfire-stricken communities with firefighter assistance and emergency operations capacity, and implement protocols to protect affected workers,
school students and vulnerable populations.

WILDFIRE
Wildfires can be a significant source of air pollution in Southern California, and climate change is expected to
increase the number and extent of wildfires. Hot, dry
summers followed by hot and dry Santa Ana wind
conditions can create conditions suitable for wildfires.

Smoke clouds from the Woolsey Fire loom over Malibu.
(Credit AP Photo)
Wide Fluctuations in Precipitation Predicted
(Source: US Climate Resilience Toolkit)
3 3 Hewitt, Al. 2014. UCLA Researchers Project Southern California Rainfall Levels Through End of Century. UCLA Newsroom. Available at
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-researchers-project-southern-californiarainfall-levels-through-end-of-century.

Sea levels rise due to increased water volume
from higher water temperatures and the
melting of glaciers and ice sheets.

Sea level rise can create multiple coastal
hazards, such as beach erosion, increased
frequency and intensity of coastal storms,
permanent inundation and saltwater
intrusion. Coastal flooding caused by storms
and high tides is a temporary condition but
can have damaging consequences. Over the
longer-term, sea level rise (SLR) will
compound the effects from coastal flooding
as storms will occur on top of higher sea
levels.

In an effort to prepare for the anticipated impacts
of SLR and coastal hazards, the City, with assistance from the USC Sea Grant, the Ocean Protection Council, the
California Coastal Commission (CCC), and the State Coastal Conservancy, commissioned technical reports that
providing shoreline change projections, coastal hazard
modeling, and vulnerability assessments.

Miles of transportation and public and private utilities infrastructure, beaches, homes, businesses and
concessionaires bear some risk from SLR and coastal
flooding. The map below shows projected SLR and coastal flooding by 2100 along the coast of Santa Monica. A
significant number of public facilities and infrastructure, buildings, and other structures are likely to be affected by storm-induced flooding.

In addition, the Santa Monica Pier, a major tourist
destination in the City, could also be impacted by increased wave height and water volume.

SEA LEVEL RISE & COASTAL

FLOODING
As the level of the Pacific Ocean continues to rise, areas that would have only been temporarily flooded or
submerged during very high ‘King’ tides or El Niño
conditions, may gradually begin to be permanently
submerged or inundated.

Over the mid-term (i.e., SLR of 6 inches to 24 inches), the Santa Monica sandy beach area towards Pacific Coast
Highway is expected to see moderate inundation levels.

Some areas have been flooded in the past during severe
storms or El Niño events, and research indicates that this will become an occurrence of increasing frequency.

Over the long-term (i.e., SLR of 16 inches to 66 inches, with a possibility of a 113 inch extreme scenario ), the
coastal inundation hazard area is expected to
expand further inland, and the mean high tide line
would move closer to its location at the turn of the
20th century.

LOCAL IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE
39 4 Cayan, D. R., J. Kalansky, S. Iacobellis, D. Pierce, and R. Kopp Kopp. (2016).

Creating Probabilistic Sea Level Rise Projections to support the 4th California Climate Assessment. Prepared for the California Energy Commission. 4 Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flood Models
According to analysis conducted by the Pedestrian Action Plan, the areas (shown below) in dark brown are locations where investments in pedestrian facilities would have the greatest health and sustainability benefits.

The highest percentage of Latinos living in Santa Monica (26%) live in the Pico neighborhood (90404), a portion of which is also considered a Disadvantaged Community by
CalEnviroScreen. According to the Wellbeing Index, Latino residents reported the least amount of physical activity and have lower than average fruit and vegetable consumption.

Also, the lowest reported use of outdoor space for leisure activities was among the Latino population. Residents in the 90404 zip code experience the highest asthma rate
among Santa Monica residents (12.1%).

Community health, environmental sustainability,
and social equity are important values for the City of Santa Monica and the intent of this analysis is to reflect those values in the City’s planning and decision-making process.

Climate change vulnerability is a measure of sensitivity to climate hazards and the ability to adapt to these hazards.

Both gradual climate change and climate hazards can
expose people and property to a wide range of stressinducing and hazardous situations.

Older adults, young children, and people with chronic
diseases and disabilities are more biologically sensitive to impacts from the effects of climate change, such as
droughts, extreme heat, and air quality impacts. In addition, low-income populations, including homeless populations
and communities of color, are generally more likely to be exposed to natural hazards and climate events, with greater sensitivity, yet have fewer resources to cope or adapt.

People for whom English is not a primary language are
further disadvantaged when public information, community planning and resources are not made accessible in their native language.

Seniors are particularly vulnerable to climate change
impacts as many may be isolated and living alone,
threatened by hunger, and living in or near poverty. Over 20% of the population in Santa Monica is over 60. In 2016, Meals on Wheels served 342 Santa Monica-based seniors.

Most of these seniors are home-bound, meaning they have difficulty leaving home due to frailty, age, chronic disease, recent hospitalization, and mental health issues. The aging population is more vulnerable to some climate change
impacts, like rising temperatures and worsening air quality.

Environmental inequity is another important factor in
determining population vulnerability. Communities of color and low-income people have historically born the burden of polluting industries and roadways with fewer services
available to them.

CLIMATE CHANGE VULNERABILITY
Influencing Factors of Vulnerability
41 EXPOSURE

SENSITIVITY ADAPTIVE

CAPACITY

VULNERABILITY

EXISTING CONDITIONS

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

SOCIAL INJUSTICE

STRUCTURAL RACISM

INSTITUTIONAL BIAS

INCOME INEQUALITY
Buildings in coastal flood zone
Roads and parking in coastal
flood zone
Ocean habitat
Santa Monica Pier
Parks
Water infrastructure
Energy supply and infrastructure
Urban forests
Beach habitat
Schools
General and vulnerable populations
Water supply
Sanitary water and sewer
infrastructure
Stormwater infrastructure
Beach tourism and recreation
Businesses
City-operated buildings
Bicycle infrastructure
General buildings and properties,
Local energy generation
Telecommunications
HIGH
MEDIUMHIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
The City may have limited jurisdiction control over
many of these assets. Partnerships with state and
federal agencies, private businesses, and homeowners
will be essential to adapt these assets to climate
hazards. Adaptation measures to increase the climate
resilience of these assets will take time to enact and
may require a great deal of education and
coordination with multiple stakeholders.

Although ranked lowest in vulnerability, there may be
assets that are more sensitive and/or have lower ability to adapt to climate change. For example, older homes
and private buildings may be much more sensitive to
extreme heat and air pollution intrusion due to poor
insulation and/or weatherproofing. Actions to increase
adaptation to climate change may also be limited as
building upgrades and energy-efficiency measures may
be cost-prohibitive.

The City has a number of current plans and programs
in place to address climate hazards for these highly
sensitive assets.

Population groups, such as outdoor workers and the
homeless population, are exposed to more climate
hazards and/or have less capacity to adapt and may
lack access to more protective indoor spaces. People
who live close to sources of pollution, like the freeway, are also more vulnerable due to an increased likelihood to have respiratory issues. The City's water infrastructure may be vulnerable to extreme drought limiting local
groundwater supply, or sea level rise resulting in
saltwater intrusion or flooding of stormwater systems.

Vulnerability        Community Sector                                 Description

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
The City conducted a vulnerability assessment across
various sectors of the community. The vulnerability
assessment analyzes how people, buildings,
infrastructure and the economy will be affected by
climate change.

The assessment incorporated quantitative data such as
exposure of physical assets and facilities along Santa
Monica’s coast likely be impacted by sea level rise and coastal flooding.

The assessment also utilized qualitative data
concerning the sensitivity and ability to adapt to
climate change of the key sectors, populations, or
assets. This was gathered from City staff and key
stakeholders. Based on the assessment, population
groups and assets within each sector were ranked from
highest to lowest vulnerability.
41 CLIMATE READY

COMMUNITY
Increase community resilience to climate change
Protect vulnerable groups from impacts
Integrate climate change impacts into City
planning, operations & infrastructure projects
2030 OBJECTIVES

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY CLIMATE READY

COMMUNITY
By identifying and working closely with our
local partners prior to an emergency, we are all
better prepared to respond when events occur.

SMOAID is coalition of businesses and service
organizations committed to preparing for
disasters and building a stronger, healthier, and
more resilient city. From 2006 - 2016, SMOAID
led to improvements in Santa Monica’s
emergency communications, preparedness
level and response potential.

In 2011, the Los Angeles Marathon, one of the
most popular marathons in the nation,
experienced rain, cold and very difficult
conditions for runners and public safety
personnel across Los Angeles.

Many participants needed immediate care
from paramedics, volunteers, and hospital staff
due to the cold and wet conditions. City staff
was prepared to meet the demands of this
emergency. The Big Blue Bus provided
busses for transporting runners out of the rain
and into climate controlled environments
and with the help of community partners, the
City was able to coordinate treatment centers
at local hotels to assist the tired, cold, and wet
participants.

The communication and coordination that
occurred is exemplary of the SMOAID model of
emergency preparedness.

As the threat of disasters, both natural and man
made, continues to increase, the City is
relaunching SMOAID to improve community
resilience and preparedness.

SMOAID : Santa Monica
Organizations Active in Disaster
Santa Monica is dedicated to protecting and
promoting the health and safety of its
residents through its adaptation actions. The
City will implement actions that can both
prepare residents for a changing climate and
build community resilience of the
community’s populations at greatest risk of
climate hazards.

Emergency management capacity can be
enhanced by including climate hazard
considerations in emergency and natural
disaster response. Considerable attention
must be paid to ensuring that such programs
and warnings are accessible to vulnerable
groups.

In order to improving the resilience of homes
and buildings, the City will work to update
building standards and provide financial and
technical assistance to property owners to
afford upgrades and retrofits.

The City itself will need to ensure that climate
change is integrated into planning processes
and project development. In order to enhance
the City's own organizational capacity to plan
for and adapt to climate change, Santa
Monica must:

Integrate climate change preparedness
planning across City operations to enhance
readiness and monitoring of climate
impacts.

Ensure that the community will be
prepared for gradual changes and climaterelated shocks, such as storms and coastal flooding, and that strategies will benefit
population groups with the greatest
climate risk.

Utilize data to assess and monitor climate
hazards and the implementation of
adaptation projects.

Design capital projects to reduce
vulnerability to climate-related events and
disasters.
43 ACTIONS

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR RESILIENCE
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
CRC1: Incorporate Climate Preparedness into City
Programs & Operations
OSE OEM Near Term
Establish an interdepartmental working group to integrate climate preparedness in planning, maintenance, and
capital improvements though the development of work
plans, screening of capital improvements, and cross-sector collaboration. Update Community Emergency Response
Training (CERT) curriculum to incorporate climate-change hazards, like wildfire and heatwaves. Establish protocols for mitigating public health impacts from heat and air quality, with regional agencies and partners. Analyze vulnerability to vector and disease migration and work with public
health stakeholders to develop strategies for outreach, engagement and prevention.Define an informationdissemination network, including community-based organizations and neighborhood representatives. Establish culturally specific messages and templates, as well as
provide early warning systems in multiple commonly
spoken languages.

R
G
CRC2: Expand SMOAID Community Resilience Network
OEM OSE Near Term
Identify suitable locations for resilience hubs, cooling centers, disaster assistance and supplies. The locations will also need to develop backup power sources in the
event of a power outage. Form partnerships with
neighborhood-based organizations and businesses to
develop Neighborhood Resilience Hub Programs and
prepare residents and respond to climate change. Develop community outreach and engagement materials. Create a Climate Ambassador program and
partner with Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District to develop a school curriculum on climate change.

R
G
CRC3: Outdoor Safety Program
OEM OSE Near Term
Work with community groups and residents to determine
best methods of outreach and communication with
outdoor workers. Educate employers and workers about
existing worker rights and protections and ways to protect outdoor workers from the effects of extreme heat.

Increase access to cooling centers and water throughout the city, especially for outdoor workers, seniors, and
homeless populations. Adopt best practices and
protocols within City operations and projects to
accommodate City staff and City contractors during high temperature days and heat waves.

Cost to City Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
Cost to City
R
G
CRC4: Prepare for Extreme Heat
OEM OSE Near Term
Explore developing community cooling centers at City
and non-City sites. Ensure temporary shade structures are provided for community events. Ensure coastal access is maintained for those seeking relief from the heat. Develop and adopt standards for asphalt and roof surfaces that will reduce local heat island effect. Develop outreach and educational materials on passive cooling
strategies like shade trees and insulation. Increase tree canopy in vulnerable neighborhoods. Promote fossil fuel free HVAC systems, like heat pump technologies, for
buildings that install air conditioning.

ACTIONS

RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
CRC6: Integrate Climate Change into Capital
Improvement Program Projects

PWD, ASD,
CED OSE Near Term
Incorporate climate impacts, risk, and uncertainty into capital improvement program projects design and
evaluation. Review updated climate assessments and
adjust infrastructure design standards and project
locations to address asset- and site-specific
vulnerabilities.

R
G
CRC7: Increase Resilience of Local Energy Infrastructure

OEM, ASD,
Utilities OSE Near Term
Partner with local utilities, regional agencies, and local jurisdictions to assess the vulnerability of energy
infrastructure. Deploy local resilient energy systems such as solar, energy storage, combined heat and power, and
fuel cells into new projects and existing facilities to prepare for heat waves, wildfire and other disruptions.

Encourage residents and local businesses to install
resilient energy systems as well.

R
G
CRC8: Enhance Regional Transportation Resilience
CalTrans,

OEM, TED,

MD, CCC
OSE Ongoing
Partner with Caltrans and neighboring jurisdictions on measures to protect critical entry and exit routes such as Pacific Coast Highway and Interstate 10. Santa Monica will work with local agencies to develop contingency plans for operations when Highway 1 and other roads are
inoperable due to coastal flooding or wildfires.

TAKE ACTION: PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change will affect communities and individuals differently. In order to be prepared for climate change, here are a few tips:

Learn about the hazards and risks associated with climate change How do you and your family adapt to extreme heat days? What is your plan if the number of extreme heat days and high temperatures increase? Understanding climate change through real impacts and practical responses can be helpful to empower yourself against such a large subject. Develop an emergency plan and preparedness kit Everyone should be prepared for an emergency and have supplies and water for up to 7 days. Make a plan with your friends and family about communicating after a disaster and prepare kits that have the necessary supplies like food, water and first aid.

Check on your elderly and vulnerable neighbors during extreme weather
Spend time getting to know those that live around you and check on them during extreme weather and emergencies. Especially if they are elderly or vulnerable.

R
G
CRC5: Climate Resilient Building Design Standards
ASD,
Business
OSE Mid Term
Develop building design guidelines for climate-resilient buildings. Conduct outreach and engagement with
building industry and trades. Adopt and implement
building-design guidelines for new and substantially
renovated buildings.

WATER

SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Achieve water self-sufficiency by 2023
2030 OBJECTIVE
.

SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
Southern California imports almost 90% of its water
needs from Northern California and the Colorado
River. Santa Monica is bucking the trend by
becoming locally self-sufficient through local water
resources like groundwater, stormwater, brackish
groundwater and even wastewater.

Santa Monica has set out to become independent
from imported water by 2023. The City’s current
sources of potable water supply include 70 percent
local groundwater, and 30 percent imported water
from Northern California and the Colorado River.

Achieving self-sufficiency means using water
produced only from local groundwater and other
local sources and maintaining a resilient system to
meet water demand. By doing this, Santa Monica
will be able to withstand intermittent rain and
prolonged periods of drought.

Achieving self-sufficiency requires both
conservation and efficiency, coupled with
increasing local water supply. Santa Monica offers
resources for property owners to convert to drought
tolerant landscaping and irrigation and install
rainwater harvesting systems.

In 2017, the City implemented a water neutrality
requirement on new construction projects, limiting
new water demand from projects that use more
water than previous ones. Fees paid in-lieu of
reducing water demand onsite go into water
efficiency projects elsewhere in the community.

Currently, the City is implementing various
components of the Sustainable Water
Infrastructure Project (next page) to significantly
expand the use of alternative sources of water, like
stormwater, wastewater and brackish water from
the beach.

Santa Monica can soon utilize water that had been
in the community all along but was previously
discharged to the ocean and piped to sewage
treatment plants. This “one water” approach
protects our community from the anticipated
fluctuations in precipitation due to climate change.

WATER

SELF-SUFFICIENCY

SANTA MONICA'S WATER SOURCES
2011
2017
2023
Local Groundwater
Imported Water
Water Conservation
Alternative Water Supply
47 The Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) is a critical component to Santa Monica's self-sufficiency goal and pushes the envelope of sustainable water management. The SWIP comprises three technical elements designed to operate in concert to conserve groundwater, reduce  wastewater, and improve beach water quality.

Element 1 provides for a modular reverse osmosis (RO) unit at the existing Santa Monica Urban  Runoff  Recycling Facility (SMURRF) located near the Santa Monica Pier. The RO-upgraded SMURRF will also leverage the recently completed Clean  Beaches Initiative Project by treating stormwater and brackish groundwater for reuse.

Element 2 provides for a new, underground Advanced Water Treatment Facility (AWTF) capable of treating up to one million gallons of wastewater per day, as well as  stormwater for immediate non-potable reuse. The advanced treated water will be used for groundwater recharge.

Element 3 provides for the installation of a 4.5 MG underground stormwater harvest tank plumbed directly to the AWTF. The tank is being consolidated from two conceptual projects beneath Memorial Park and the other beneath the Civic Auditorium parking lot.

Increasing recycled water production through the SWIP, upgrading the existing Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) and constructing a new Advanced Water Treatment Facility (AWTF) provides a drought resilient, local water supply. The increase in recycled water production from SMURRF would offset imported water purchases from Northern California by approximately 4% (approximately 560 AFY).

Recharging local groundwater aquifers in the Olympic Sub-basin to maintain sustainable yield pumping levels with purified water from the SWIP’s AWPF would offset imported water by approximately an additional 7% (approximately 1,100 AFY).

SUSTAINABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

ACTIONS

WATER CONSERVATION
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
Cost to City Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
Cost to City
R
G H2O1: Commercial Sector Retrofits
Develop incentives and direct install programs to retrofit OSE MWD Ongoing inefficient water fixtures in commercial properties.

R
G
H2O2: Coin Operated Laundry Program
OSE MWD Near Term
Develop incentives targeted at multiunit dwelling
property owners and laundry service vendors to replace
inefficient laundry systems with new systems.

R
G
H2O3: Increase Direct Install Program
OSE MWD Ongoing
Expand annual replacement of inefficient toilets in
multiunit dwellings and single-family homes.

R
G H2O4: Arcadia Water Treatment Plant Improvements
Increase in production efficiencies at the Arcadia Water WRD Mid Term Treatment Plant by recovering brine concentrate.

ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY
R
G
H2O5: Clean Beaches Initiative & SMURRF Repurposing
WRD Mid Term
Upgrade the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling
Facility (SMURRF), that provides a drought resilient, local water supply, to increase the amount of recycled water
production. Connect SMURRF to the newly constructed
(2018) Clean Beaches Initiative 1.6 million gallon tank, to supply SMURRF with rain and brackish ground water
when urban runoff is not available.

ED
ED
R
G
H2O6: Expand Local Water Resources
WRD Long Term
Expand capacity at Arcadia Water Treatment Plant to
accommodate more water. Restore the Olympic wellfield
and develop a new well to enhance drought resilience.

ED

LOCAL GROUND WATER PRODUCTION

COASTAL FLOODING

PREPAREDNESS
2030 OBJECTIVES
Enhance natural systems to prevent damage
from coastal flooding
Increase resilience of public and private assets in
the coastal flood zone

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS
Santa Monica's expansive beaches provide not only an
economic boon and regional recreation, but also
protection from sea level rise.

In addition to iconic recreation and landscape, beaches are ecosystems unto themselves, providing vital habitat for local species. They are molded by wind patterns, fed by natural sediment flow and washed upon by the
ocean, changing over time.

As sea levels increase, there will be a gradual landward movement of water up the beach and the beach will
narrow. Current beach management practices may have
to change in order to adapt to these changes in order to preserve as much of the natural barrier.

No one knows exactly how much sea level rise will occur and by when. However, it is certain that Santa Monica,
like other jurisdictions along the California coast, will face new threats from sea level rise and coastal hazards that could damage or destroy coastal resources, like
beaches, and infrastructure, such as road and utility
lines, public amenities, and private developments
within the next few decades.

Santa Monica's recently adopted Local Coastal Program
Land Use Plan establishes policies and adaptation
strategies to be implemented once a certain amount of
sea level rise has occurred. As changes to shoreline
conditions occur, new policy phases would be activated, based on observed impacts.

CLEAN POWER ALLIANCE OF

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE VISUALIZING SEA LEVEL RISE
In 2016, the City installed two telescopic viewers
on the Santa Monica Pier, in partnership with
USC Sea Grant, the US Geological Survey
(USGS), and Owlized, Inc. “The Owls on the Pier”
offered passersby an augmented reality
experience into potential future scenarios of sea
level rise impacts on Santa Monica's beach. The
Owls surveyed participants on their views and
concerns about climate change and sea level
rise and their preference for climate adaptation
approaches.

Over 10,000 people visited the Owls, and more
than 2,500 of those participated in all or part of
the Owl’s survey. In addition about 1,000 people
viewed the mobile version of the Owl and
answered all or part of the survey.

COASTAL FLOODING

PREPAREDNESS

NATURAL SOLUTIONS
To improve the biodiversity and resiliency of
Santa Monica’s beaches, and to address potential
impacts of sea level rise, the City is looking at
adaptation measures that would re-introduce
a more natural beach environment. One such
measure is dune creation.

In 2016, the City implemented a dune pilot
project in the North Beach area, by suspending
beach grooming, erecting a low fence, and
seeding foliage to encourage dune growth.

Evaluation of the effects of this pilot project will
guide future efforts. Small “dunelets” also benefit
the Western Snowy Plover, by mimicking natural
beach landscapes and providing protection from
the wind.

ACTIONS

ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
CF1: Resilient Buildings & Infrastructure in the
Coastal Zone
OSE CCS Mid Term
Estimate the financial costs of sea-level rise, including replacement or repair costs of resources and facilities that could be impacted by sea level rise and coastal
flooding, non-market values, like recreation and
ecosystem services. Conduct site-specific vulnerability assessments of City-owned buildings and facilities in the coastal zone. Develop guidelines and standards for
infrastructure and buildings to be flood-proofed, or be capable of accommodating temporary flooding.

R
G
CF2: Coastal Hazard Real Estate Disclosure
OSE CPD Mid Term
Establish a process requiring the disclosure during any real estate transaction within the City’s Coastal Zone of a property’s location in a hazard zone identified in the
Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan (LUP) and of the
results of any site-specific hazard analyses related to the hazards mapped in the LUP. Collaborate with the Coastal Commission and local real estate agents to develop
specific guidance and language regarding point-of-sale
disclosures. Adopt and implement a local ordinance
specifying point-of-sale disclosures.

R
G
CF3: Climate Ready Santa Monica Pier
CED Pier Long Term
Integrate the latest sea level rise projections in Pier structural assessments and design improvements.

Implement capital improvements to withstand increased wave height and on-shore flooding.

R
G
CF4: Adopt a Shoreline Management Plan

OSE, CCS,

CED, BM,
Pier,
Nonprofits
Mid to Long
Term CPD
Develop a shoreline management plan for specific high
priority areas that are most vulnerable to sea level rise hazards, Include adaptation strategies to address sea
level rise and coastal hazards and adapt to changes in wave, flooding, and erosion hazards in the short and long term for the specified area; prioritizing “soft” adaptation strategies such as managed retreat, beach nourishment,
living shorelines, and dune restoration over “hard”
adaptation strategies such as seawalls.

R
G
CF5: Beach Nourishment & Dune Creation

OSE, CCS,
Nonprofits
Mid to Long
Term BM
Dune creation shall be allowed to occur within the City’s beach areas, provided consideration is given to any
impacts on the Western Snowy Plover Special Protection
Zone (SPZ) and other SPZs that may be established in
the future where dune restoration occurs. Design and
implement additional pilot projects, utilizing green
infrastructure or eco-engineering.

R
G
CF6: Local Coastal Program Monitoring & Implementation
Nonprofits Mid to Long
Term CPD
Monitor sea level rise and coastal flooding impacts over time utilizing tidal gage data, pier scour analysis, seasonal beach width and storm flooding damage. Phase in
policies and projects identified by the Local Coastal Plan as climate change impacts increase. Update coastal
hazard maps at least every 5 years or sooner based on the best available science.

Cost to City Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
Cost to City

LOW CARBON FOOD
& ECOSYSTEMS
2030 OBJECTIVES
Increase self-reliance through local food production
Reduce carbon emissions from food production,
consumption, waste and landscape management
and natural processes

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS
Conventional food production is one of the nation’s
largest sources of environmental degradation. The
industrialized food system is unsustainable due to its
reliance on fossil fuels for fertilizers, pesticides,
herbicides, industrial equipment, refrigeration, and
interstate transportation. Globally, one-third of
greenhouse gas emissions result from the food system
when accounting for transportation, soil degradation
and deforestation.

Fortunately, local and chemical-free food is on the
rebound as more people recognize its value and health
benefits. Meat-less or meat-free meals are becoming
more popular and accessible in restaurants and home
kitchens.

In Santa Monica, many residents are already embracing
local and low-carbon food choices. Santa Monica offers
Farmers Markets at various locations three days a week
to provide residents with locally produced, fresh, and
healthy food. All of the Farmers Markets in Santa
Monica accept CalFresh, Farmers Market WIC and
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
checks. making healthy and low-carbon food choices
available to low-income residents.

GOING LOCAL WITH FOOD

OUR FORESTS ABOVE AND BELOW
Santa Monica’s urban forest is currently 93% stocked
with approximately 33,000 trees. A fully mature tree
can retain approximately 1 ton of carbon dioxide each
year. By fully stocking the urban forest, the City can
maximize tree canopy, cooling benefits and carbon
reductions from its trees.

One way that oceans and ocean-related ecosystems
contribute to carbon sequestration is through ocean
vegetation like sea kelp. Kelp forests are typical of Santa Monica Bay and are present in around Malibu and Palos
Verdes, but less kelp is present directly adjacent to
Santa Monica due to poor water quality and invasive
sea urchins, which eat and destroy kelp forests.

LOW CARBON FOOD
& ECOSYSTEMS
Carbon sequestration is the process of removing carbon
from the atmosphere (CO2) and converting it into
organic carbon (C) in biological materials. Some
examples of natural sequestration include trees, soil,
wetlands, marshes, geologic formations or biochar.

Sequestration offers an opportunity to invest in and
restore natural ecosystems to capture and offset Santa
Monica’s remaining emissions.

Despite Santa Monica’s urbanized setting, the City has
several opportunities for sequestering, or storing,
atmospheric carbon dioxide through natural processes.

The potential to expand forested areas within the city
and the proximity to the ocean offer unique
possibilities for innovation and generation of cobenefits.

The most viable carbon sequestration strategies that
are local to Santa Monica are urban forest management
and kelp forest restoration.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION
Efforts are underway in the Palo Verdes area to restore the kelp forests by managing the sea urchin population. The results to date demonstrate the ability of kelp, especially fast-growing species, to both absorb carbon and to
mitigate an overabundance of nitrogen in ocean areas
adjacent to urban communities.

While currently a pilot project, this effort is uniquely relevant and would generate numerous ecological and
economic benefits in terms of fish habitat, water quality, and overall health and longevity of Santa Monica Bay.

Community gardening provides an opportunity for
residents to connect to their food, the land, and their neighbors while reducing the environmental impact of
the conventional food system.

Parks and recreation activities are central to quality of life in Santa Monica. Natural settings can provide
valuable, regenerative, passive recreation opportunities.

In addition to the documented mental health benefits,
greening in parks and public spaces would contribute
to improved human health through relief from heatisland effects and improved air quality.

Park vegetation and trees provide shade and oxygen,
which cool the streets as well as nearby homes and
buildings. A full and healthy urban forest canopy can be an effective and efficient means of sequestering carbon, while reducing pollution, the heat island effect and the need for air-conditioning.

In surveys and interviews conducted during the Parks &
Recreation Master Plan update process, respondents
emphasized that they want the park system to be
greener and include more natural spaces and green
infrastructure. The community also suggested
expanding the urban forest by planting more trees in
the City's parks.

While Santa Monica has many beloved parks and green
spaces, it is below the average for Los Angeles County
when it comes to green space per capita.

In 2017, the City of Santa Monica and the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA), reached a historic
agreement, which will lead to the eventual closure of
Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in 2028. Earlier in 2014,
Santa Monica voters supported Measure Local Control
(Measure LC) that affirms the authority of City Council to manage airport land and amends the City Charter to
require voter approval for any new development on
airport land except parks, public open space, and
public recreational facilities.

CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL

AT THE AIRPORT
PLANTING 1,000 TREES

C O U L D S E Q U E S T E R
688,000 LBS CO2

ENOUGH TO OFFSET

IN A FOSSIL-FUEL

VEHICLE
763,011 MI
At 227 acres, SMO has the potential of becoming one of
the largest parks in Los Angeles. With so much land, a
park at SMO could provide a unique opportunity to
transform a carbon source into a carbon sink,
sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, by
expanding Santa Monica's urban forest and fostering
healthy soils. If the City were to plan 1,000 trees within this area it could sequester 688,000 lbs of carbon
dioxide, which would be enough to offset driving over
763,000 miles in a fossil-fuel vehicle.

Ultimately, the path from Airport to park will involve a complex process to design, fund, and construct, which
will be informed by community input.

Assumes Oak tree (quercus spp) annual sequestration rate of 688 lbs (Source: Urban Forest Master Plan). Vehicle emissions equivalent estimated using the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Potential Airport Acreage to be Converted Post-2028 Closure *Existing buildings and non-aviation functions will likely remain Penmar Golf Course
51 acres
Clover Park
18 acres
Potential Airport to
Park Conversion Area
227 acres*
Existing Parks
Planned Parks
Airport Park

8.3 acres
Planned Airport
Park Expansion
12 acres
55 ACTIONS

RESILIENCE THROUGH LOCAL FOOD
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
LCFE1: Promote Low Carbon, Low Waste Lifestyles

FMD, EDD,
OWB OSE Ongoing
Promote more sustainable food and drink options through campaigns, outreach events and community resources.

Include all five pillars of the City's Sustainable Food Commitment: 1) reduce meat and dairy, 2) avoid processed foods, 3) eat organic, 4) eat local, and 5) reduce waste. Develop incentives and rewards programs to support the local food system and low carbon foods. Promote
sustainable pet food through outreach and education.

LCFE2: Increase Productivity of Public & Private Lands

CRD, HSD,
OWB,
Business,
Nonprofits
Mid Term
OSE,
PLD,
CCS
Increase food access by planting fruit and nut trees in parks and private sites through education, incentives, and rebates. Facilitate micro-agriculture operations that utilize open land and rooftops or space-efficient operations, like aquaponics. Conduct a feasibility study for repurposing underutilized parkways, vacant or abandoned properties, or the Airport to park conversion for urban farming. Target affordable housing developments, homeless-service
providers – in order to empower communities to become
self-sustaining. Support residents to start their own
gardens by providing educational and training
opportunities. Model programs from the Ishihara Park’s
demonstration and learning garden.

R
G
LCFE3: Develop a Sustainable Food Master Plan

FMD, OWB,
Nonprofits
Mid to Long
Term OSE
Develop a community plan that advances the City's
Sustainable Food Commitment, and addresses food
security through strategies such as local food cultivation, resident vending or donations of local produce at markets, food banks and shelters, and land use strategies.

R
G
R
G
LCFE4: Increase Farmers Market Low Income Patronage

HSD, OWB,
Nonprofits
Mid to Long
Term FMD Enroll all eligible residents in CalFresh and support the Farmer’s Market Match program that enhances EBT
dollar value at farmers markets.

Cost to City Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
Cost to City

CARBON SEQUESTRATION & HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS
R
G
LCFE5: Climate Resilient Forest & Landscape Management
PLD OSE Near Term
The updated Urban Forest Master Plan already addresses the effects of climate change and other potential threats to the urban forest. Assess pruning practices to preserve biomass and increase carbon sequestration potential. Encourage
proper tree watering, fertilizer, maintenance and protection during construction. Establish a baseline of the energy used to build and maintain the City's urban forest and landscapes and develop a plan to reduce carbon emissions through
maintenance and mulching.

R
G
LCFE7: Local Carbon Sequestration
Nonprofits Near to Mid
Term OSE
Explore opportunities to sequester carbon on all City
properties, including Woodlawn Cemetery and Airport to
park conversion and local habitat systems, like sea kelp.

R
G
LCFE6: Private Tree Preservation
PLD Near to Mid
Term
Explore policies, incentives and funding mechanisms to CPD ensure the preservation of private trees, including the City's hedge ordinance.

Santa Monica College (SMC) has been hosting a free
farmer’s market for students once a week during fall
and spring semesters since February 2017. The market
provides approximately 1,500 lbs of fresh produce
feeding 150 students every week, and to date,
over 50,000 lbs of fresh produce has been distributed
to over 5,300 students.

Student volunteers collect produce from vendors at the
Santa Monica Wednesday Farmer’s Market, in
partnership with Food Forward. The students then
deliver the produce and staff the market two hours per
week. SMC also supplements the program by
purchasing produce from the Westside Food Bank.

Students are only required to show a valid student ID
and bring their own bag. Creative recipes and nutrition consultations are offered to help students figure out
how to prepare healthy meals.

SMC also purchases over 10,000 lbs of non-perishable
food products from West Side Food Bank each week to
stock food in six “food pantry’s” around campus to help with the problem of food insecurity.

To minimize organic waste from food preparation, SMC
uses 400,000 worms to eat through about 300 lbs of
food scraps per week from cafeteria vendors. Over the
past 17 years, SMC has been diverted 6.25 tons of
organic waste from the landfill.

SANTA MONICA COLLEGE: ADDRESSING

FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD WASTE

COMMUNITY IN ACTION
Credit: Justin Han

IMPLEMENTING

THE PLAN
2030 OBJECTIVES
Achieve carbon neutrality in municipal operations
Foster a climate-literate community
Develop financing resources for climate action &
adaptation projects

ZERO NET CARBON

BUILDINGS
Climate change affects the whole community
without regard for political affiliation, jurisdictional boundary or background. Most people understand
that humans are responsible, but few feel
empowered to take action let alone know what to do.

This plan cannot be successful without the
participation and leadership of the community.

Santa Monica residents and businesses have long
demonstrated their willingness to invest their time
and resources to making Santa Monica
more prosperous and sustainable.

The challenge will be to continue to scale up lifestyle changes and adoption of clean technologies for
uninitiated individuals and under-served populations
across the entire community.

The City will partner with traditional and nontraditional stakeholders to develop resources and activate the entire community in culturally
appropriate conversations, individual actions and
community activism. Non-profits and communitybased organizations, like Climate Action Santa Monica, will be key to broadening the community
base for change.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

CITY LEADERSHIP
Santa Monica has a long history of demonstrating
leadership by adopting advanced technologies and
innovating practices to be more sustainable.

The City will seek to achieve carbon neutrality in
municipal operations by 2030 offering an example to
other local governments, organizations and
businesses to follow. This will be achieved primarily
through the electrification of Big Blue Bus, building
electrification and renewable energy.

An interdepartmental team of City staff in
collaboration with civic leaders must be assembled to
maintain momentum and ensure accountability. This
group will work to ensure all policies, projects and
programs are designed and implemented with equity
as a core principle.

Santa Monica must continue to work beyond its
borders to support and lead coalition groups of cities
and local jurisdictions mobilizing and advocating for
climate action at regional, state, national and
international levels.

IMPLEMENTING

THE PLAN
Credit: Justin Han
59 CLIMATE FINANCE
Deep emissions reductions will need to be achieved
at a scale and pace unlike the City has seen
before. The success of the plan depends on
committing resources to implementation, and then
augmenting those resources with alternative
sources of funding.

The City has dedicated significant resources to meet
its sustainability and climate goals. Between the
adopted 16/18 and 18/20 fiscal year (FY) Capital
Improvement Program (CIP) budgets, the City has
already committed over $383M to climate action
and adaptation projects over the next 5 years. The
projects span municipal energy efficiency and
renewable energy projects, electric vehicles, and
pedestrian and biking improvements. This is in
addition to the City's operating budgets which
cover staff time and program expenses dedicated to
advancing low-carbon living and technologies.

O V E R T H E N E X T 5 Y E A R S ,

S A N T A M O N I C A W I L L
S P E N D O V E R $ 3 8 3 M O N

C L I M A T E A C T I O N &
A D A P T A T I O N .

T O M E E T O U R G O A L S , W E

W I L L N E E D T O A T L E A S T
D O U B L E T H A T B Y 2 0 3 0 .

New costs associated with this plan include
dedicated lanes for bikes and personal mobility
devices, electric buses, adaptation projects and
programs and more. Staff estimate that
implementation of the plan could cost roughly over
$832 million over the next 10-12 years. Additionally,
not all projects and programs have been fully
conceived or are planned at the moment. Staff will
need to leverage external funding mechanisms like
grants, low-interest loans or project financing
models to supplement City funds.

The investment by the community to support the
Plan will be many times greater than the City's own
costs. The City will need to provide support to
residents and businesses in need of funding to
decarbonize their buildings, vehicles and lifestyles.

CLIMATE ACTION &

ADAPTATION
SECTOR
SUB-SECTOR FY 16/18
16/18
FY 18/20 TOTAL
APPROVED 5-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGETS
$11,033,075
$15,541,828
$1,552,247
$10,507,954
$21,116,000
$186,690
$2,330,000
$70,858,500
$2,124,000
$108,663,560
$31,131,412
-
-
$432,837,726
$3,127,300
$2,250,000
$65,318,436
$3,835,000
$119,696,635
$47,583,240
$1,552,247
$10,507,954
$53,953,726
$3,313,990
$4,580,000
$136,176,936
$5,959,000
Municipal Energy
Bike & Pedestrian Improvements
Roadway & Transit Improvements
Affordable Housing
Low Emission Buses
Electric Vehicles
Urban Forest
Local Water Production
Pier Hardening
Zero Net Carbon Buildings
Sustainable Mobility
Low Carbon Food
& Ecosystems
Water Self-Sufficiency
Coastal Flooding
Preparedness
TOTAL $135,160,294 $248,163,434 $383,323,728
At the same time, it should discourage carbonemitting activities through fee-based systems or carbon taxes to shift community investment away
from fossil fuels to clean technologies.

This Plan proposes the creation of a Community
Climate Action Grant program, funded by a Carbon
Development Impact Fee. The impact fee, to be
assessed on new commercial construction and
major renovation projects, would encourage lowcarbon design and sustainable modes of transit, while at the same time providing a continuous
funding mechanism for carbon reduction projects.

The City will need to focus on addressing
environmental injustices and equity issues through
any funding mechanism that redistributes wealth.

Examples include the Pico Neighborhood Wellbeing
Microgrant Program.
60 ACTIONS

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
CE1: Create a Community Climate Action Network
OWB,
Nonprofits OSE Near Term
Work with the community partners to create a
community network that facilitates communication and
coordination between community members, as well as
between the City and the community. The network will
identify actions for individuals, neighborhoods and
institutions to implement and measure the impact of
grassroots activity. The network will engage the
neighborhoods and people with messages that are
relevant to them is necessary to reach people from all
backgrounds and walks of life.

CE2: Pilot Block-Level & Business Sustainability Plans
OWB,
Nonprofits OSE Ongoing
Provide a framework and tools for businesses and
communities to set goals, identify projects and gain
support for taking climate action in their neighborhoods.

CE3: Launch a Community Climate Action Grant
OSE Nonprofits Ongoing
Establish an annual micro-grant program to support local citizen-led projects and programs that will reduce
emissions, adapt to climate change and enhance equity.

CE4: Increase Climate & Eco-Literacy
Schools,
Nonprofits OSE Ongoing
Increase local awareness about the need to protect the
region’s ecosystems from a changing climate. Develop
educational curriculum, outreach materials and
information for use by educators and community based
organizations. Develop program resources in multiple
languages to reflect the diversity in Santa Monica.

Support citizen science initiatives, like local air quality monitoring.

R
G
R
G
R
G

CITY LEADERSHIP
CL2: Implement Deep Carbon Reduction Retrofits in
City Facilities
FacMD,
ASD, TED OSE Ongoing
Implement an energy portfolio manager system to
monitor real-time energy consumption and costs. Audit
facilities for energy efficiency potential and implement large-scale retrofit program across the City’s portfolio.

Pilot and implement conversions of natural gas building systems to electric-based systems, like heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems. Pilot retrofit and financing
mechanisms like performance contracting and
sustainability/energy-as-a-service. Track refrigerants in buildings and vehicles, reduce refrigerants with high
global warming potential and reduce leakage rates from
air conditioning systems.

R
G
Cost to City Carbon
Reduction
Potential
Low
Medium
High
Supports Paris
Agreement
Potential to
Address Equity G
Government
Leadership
Advances Smart City
Concepts
Potential for Cost Savings,
Local investment and Jobs
Enhances
Environmental Quality
R
Enhances
Community
Resilience
Improves Public
Health & Safety
Cost to City
CL1: Adopt a Smart City Strategy

OSE, MD,
OEM, TED ISD Near Term Adopt a Smart City Strategy to advance technologies in City infrastructure and leverage public-private
partnerships that support energy and water efficiency, mobility planning and services, public safety and communications.

R
G

ACTIONS

CITY LEADERSHIP
Carbon Reduction
Potential
Cost
to City
Community
Benefits Partners
Status or
Lead Timeframe
R
G
CL4: Convert City Fleet Vehicles to Electric or Zero
Emission

FD, RRR,
BBB
Mid to Long
Term OSE
Pilot electric and zero emission vehicles for medium and heavy duty vehicles. Replace vehicles as technology
becomes available. Downsize and consolidate fleet
vehicles to promote vehicle sharing. Convert Big Blue Bus fleet to all-electric by 2030.

R
G
CL7: City Leadership & Collaboration
OSE Ongoing
Integrate social and racial equity into citywide planning processes and community programs. Engage with other
local governments and stakeholders at the regional, state, federal and international levels. Advocate for State and regional policies that support local targets and largescale change. Continue to share progress through reporting platforms.

CLIMATE FINANCE
R
G
CF1: Adopt a Carbon Impact Fee
OSE BSD Mid Term
Adopt an ordinance to impose a carbon impact fee on
new commercial development. The fee would be based
on the construction and operation of commercial
properties with the exception of all-electric buildings and eligible affordable housing projects. The funds generated could support the Community Climate Action Grant
program.

R
G
CF2: Explore Alternative Community Climate
Financing Options
OSE Ongoing
Study and pilot alternative financing mechanisms to
increase community investment and streamline funding
toward climate-related projects. Such ideas include carbon tax, green banks or revolving funds, crowdfunding, energy performance contracts, and sustainability-as-a-service.

FIN
CL5: Clean Tech Innovation Program
Partner with Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and
develop program to pilot emerging technologies on City
facilities and with willing private properties. R
G OSE Business Near Term
CL3: Expand the Use of Distributed Energy Resources
FacMD,
ASD, TED OSE Ongoing
Finalize and implement the City's Resilient Energy Action Plans for critical facilities and community facilities in need of emergency backup power. Maximize all viable rooftop
and parking facility areas for onsite solar systems, battery storage and microgrids where possible. Potential projects may include: Civic Center Microgrid, Main Library-Fire
Station 1 Microgrid, distributed waste-to-energy systems, community solar at Airport (post-2028 closure).

R
G
CL6: Reduce Consumption Based Emissions
Identify goods, services and suppliers that contribute to the City’s carbon footprint. Develop a system to track, analyze and report the impacts of employee air travel to conferences, meetings and workshops, etc. Establish a
goal to reduce carbon emissions associated with
consumption and employee air travel and then develop
strategies to be implemented.

R
G OSE Business Near Term
R
G
CL8: Implementing Plans, Policies & Ordinances
OSE Ongoing
Consider and approve new plans, policies & ordinances and amendments to existing plans, policies and ordinances in a public review process to implement this plan.

PCD, RRR

CONCLUSION
The challenge of climate change is unprecedented in
its scale and potential disruption to our way of living.

Recent climate disasters have given us a preview of
what may become the 'new abnormal.'
We must act now. No longer can we avoid hard
decisions and changes for the sake of convenience or
politics. A climate changed-future will not wait.

However, in the face of daunting headlines, we remain
hopeful and resolved. We know what to do. We have
the solutions to reduce emissions, increase efficiency, promote economic vitality, and improve our quality of
life.

This plan provides a pathway to accelerate our historical success so that we can make climate change history. It
is also a call to action to residents, community
institutions and businesses to take an active part in our transition to a low carbon future and clean economy.

In this process, we will foster a vibrant economy,
increase our resiliency and support Santa Monica’s
vision for a livable and sustainable community for
generations to come.

CLIMATE PROTECTION FOR ALL
Credit: Kristina Sado
This plan will serve as a living document, to be
updated as technologies and policies progress.

The City will maintain a reporting platform to
easily track and monitor greenhouse gases and
climate action progress. Staff will provide annual
progress reports and conduct biennial
greenhouse gas inventories to evaluate plan
effectiveness.

After five years, the City will update the plan
based on the results to ensure the goals can be
met by 2030 and beyond.

T R A C K I N G

O U R P R O G R E S S
R e g u l a r M o n i t o r i n g
A n n u a l P r o g r e s s R e p o r t s
B i e n n i a l G r e e n h o u s e G a s
E m i s s i o n s I n v e n t o r i e s
5 - Y e a r C o n s u m p t i o n
B a s e d E m i s s i o n s
I n v e n t o r y
5 - Y e a r P l a n U p d a t e

MEASURING SUCCESS
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