Climate and Adaptation

Climate Action Plan Update 2030

On December 8, 2020, the Board of Supervisors adopted the update of Climate Action Plan (CAP) with targets and measures identified for 2030. The Response to Comments summarizes comments received prior to the adoption of the CAP and County responses.

Draft Climate Action Plan Update 2030 Workshop

On October 12, 2020, the County of Marin Sustainability Team facilitated an online workshop for the Draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) as part of the process of developing goals and measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in unincorporated Marin County through the year 2030. The presentation included information about the greenhouse gas emissions inventory, draft reduction goals, and proposed measures. The event also included an opportunity for Q&A between attendees and panelists.

Marin Climate Action Plan Community Meeting

On February 12, 2020, the County of Marin hosted a community workshop and meeting for the Marin Climate Action Plan update. Participants learned about the County's efforts to update the existing Climate Action Plan and provided input to help identify our path forward with a vision towards 2030 and beyond. 

Marin Climate Action Plan Community Workshop Presentation and Photos

County of Marin Climate Action Plan Background

During Earth Week of 2002, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution that recognized both the gravity of global warming and the responsibility for local action. In the County's first Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, adopted in 2006, the County set greenhouse gas reductions target of 15% below 1990 levels by 2020 for community and municipal emissions. By 2012, the County had met its community emissions target by reducing emissions to 15% below 1990 levels - eight years ahead of schedule. In November 2014, the Board of Supervisors adopted an updated community emissions target of reducing emissions to 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 when it adopted the Climate Action Plan Update 2015.

Historical Climate Action Planning Background Reports and Documents

• Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Unincorporated Community Emissions for the Year 2019 (published August 2021)
• 2019 Interim Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessment
• Climate Action Plan Update 2015
• Climate Action Plan 2015 Program Implementation Highlights
• Marin Countywide Plan (November 2007)
• Re-Inventory of GHG Emissions (September 2007)
• Marin County's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan (October 2006)
• Baseline Emissions Analysis (June 2003)

The Marin Climate & Energy Partnership (MCEP) is made up of representatives from all eleven cities and towns in Marin, the County, the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), the Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) and the Marin General Services Authority (MGSA). MCEP's mission is the reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels to the targets of Marin County and local municipalities, consistent with the standard set by AB32.

Climate Action Plans in Marin's Cities and Towns

All of Marin's cities and towns have either adopted a Climate Action Plan(CAP) or have incorporated Climate Action planning into their General Plan. You can view each city's CAP on the MCEP website.

In addition, some cities and towns in Marin County have specific Climate Change and Sustainability websites. Visit the following links for more information on going green in your community.

• City of Belvedere
• Town of Fairfax
• City of Mill Valley
• City of Novato
• Town of San Anselmo
• City of San Rafael
• City of Sausalito
• Town of Tiburon

Sustainability Tracker

The Interactive Sustainability Tracker, launched in January 2015 by MCEP, illustrates progress being made by local jurisdictions, resident and businesses in Marin County toward reducing emissions and increasing sustainable practices. The Tracker includes twelve metrics gauging a community's level of consumption and implementation of sustainability measures related to energy, waste, transportation, water, and greenhouse gas reductions. The interactive map allows a user to see how a city of town is doing in comparison to other local jurisdictions over time and provides additional information on how each member of the community can take further action to help reduce emissions and meet the State's greenhouse gas reduction targets. The tracker was updated in spring 2017 with the most recent available data.

Marin Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Inventories

In 2021, MCEP developed GHG inventories for all of the cities and towns in Marin County for the year 2019. Marin countywide emissions fell 26% between 2005 (the base year for most cities/towns) and 2019. The result of these inventories can be found at the MCEP Climate Inventories website.

Marin County Sustainability Team Learning Resources Page

Visit the Learning Resources Page to watch recorded webinars on home sustainability topics including energy efficiency, electrification, renter resources, solar and battery projects and more. The page also has links to documents, studies, and project case studies to help residents plan and research actions they can take to reduce their carbon footprint.

• Learning Resources Page

Homeowner Toolkit

This 12-page booklet, developed by the County of Marin Sustainability Team, contains everything a new (or existing!) homeowner would want to know when moving into a new home or learning more about the sustainability resources available in Marin County. Information includes how to go solar, available energy efficiency programs and rebates, how to find your waste hauler, water conservation tips, community volunteering opportunities, and more. View the online PDF below or call to request a hard copy at (415) 473-2698.

• Homeowner Toolkit

Marin Climate and Energy Partnership

In addition to the greenhouse gas inventory and climate action planning activities mentioned above, the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership (MCEP) also provides suggested activities for both residents and businesses that are interested in taking personal action to reduce their contribution to climate change.

• What You Can Do

Consumption Based Inventory

The County of Marin Climate Action Plan accounts for emissions that are created by our day-to-day activities, such as driving to work, turning on the lights at home, and taking out the trash. But there are other emission-generating parts of our lives that this inventory doesn't account for. The County's is an activity-based inventory, which means it uses information about the activities that occur within our borders, such as miles driven and kilowatt hours used.

Another way to assess local emissions is through a consumption-based inventory. This accounts for activities that are typically outside of jurisdictional control, such as how much and what people purchase. Purchases of clothing, food, airline trips, and other goods and services are not included in the County's climate action plan, because many of the emissions generated in the creation of these goods happen elsewhere, such as at factories or airports outside of the County.

If you are interested in learning more about this measure of emissions, and how your neighborhood compares in this metric, a consumption-based inventory is available for the entire San Francisco Bay Area. This inventory, completed in 2016 by the bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Cool Climate Network at UC Berkeley, is based on a full life-cycle analysis of the emissions generated by the production, shipping, use, and disposal of each product consumed in the Bay Area, regardless of where the GHG emissions were released to the atmosphere.

The following resources are available for Marin County residents to learn more about their consumption-based footprint.

• SF Bay Area Carbon Footprint Map
• BAAQMD Consumption Based Inventory Page

Sustainable Marin

Sustainable Marin is a non-profit organization of volunteers who advocate and educate about sustainability at the County level in Marin. This group provides information and volunteer opportunities for residents looking to learn more about local environmental efforts. Many cities in Marin County also have local chapters, including Sustainable Novato, Sustainable San Rafael, Sustainable Fairfax, and Sustainable San Anselmo.

• Sustainable Marin Website

Resilient Neighborhoods

A project of Sustainable Marin, Resilient Neighborhoods is a 501(C)(3) non-profit that provides free training and meetings to help all Marin residents learn about and lower their carbon footprint. In addition, the program empowers residents to lower their bills, strengthen their communities and prepare for emergencies.

The Program operates as a 5-part series, in which residents learn about specific actions to create cleaner, safer, more sustainable homes and communities. More information can be found at the Resilient Neighborhoods website.

• Resilient Neighborhoods

Marin Sustainability Events

The County of Marin Sustainability Team on occasion organizes and attends sustainability related around Marin. Visit out Events Page for information on past and future events.

MarinCAN Focus Areas

Learn more about what you can do to lower your greenhouse gas emissions by sector:

• Renewable Energy
• Transportation
• Buildings and Infrastructure
• Local Food and Food Waste
• Carbon Sequestration
• Climate Resilient Communities

• Cal-Adapt - Great website that tracks California's climate change research and has excellent interactive mapping tools.
• California Climate Change Portal -This is the state's general website on climate change including information on current research and resources for individuals, businesses and local governments wanting to take action.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - Organization established by the United Nations Environment Programme & World Meteorological Organization in 1988 to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts.
• Sonoma County's Climate Protection Program -A collaboration of public and private partners in Sonoma County working to reach the County's greenhouse reduction targets. 
• Bay Area Air Quality Management District Climate Program - BAAQMD's page on climate protection includes information on their programs and information on their work related to AB32.
• 350BayArea.org - a grassroots movement striving for deep greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The site includes information on how residents can take action and includes an up to date calendar on climate events throughout the Bay Area.