San Rafael, CA – The County of Marin has made such strong progress on goals to reduce harmful emissions that its Draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update 2014, released today, sets the bar even higher than original goals set by the State of California.
The County’s Draft CAP Update 2014, created by the Marin County Community Development Agency’s Sustainability Team, includes a plan to cut emissions from both existing and new development countywide. It contains regulatory, incentive-based and voluntary strategies -- some that build on existing County programs and others that provide new opportunities to address climate change. The County will unveil details of the update during an October 6 public meeting.
An inventory of emissions completed earlier this year showed that the County had met its original emissions reduction target of 15 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, eight years ahead of schedule. The CAP Update 2014 proposes a new 2020 emissions reduction target of 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 — a far more aggressive target than the one that was established by the state through Assembly Bill AB 32 to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
California Executive Order S-03-05, which was issued in 2005, articulated a long-term goal for the state to reduce emissions to 80 percent below 1990 emissions levels by 2050. To reach the target, the state would have to go beyond what is included in the current goal set by AB 32 for 2020. Marin County is attempting to set the new pace for 2050 by adopting a more aggressive target.
The Draft CAP Update 2014 can be accessed at www.marincounty.org/climate or residents can contact the Sustainability Team at (415) 473-6269 to obtain a copy.
The County is seeking public input on the Draft CAP Update. Written comments may be submitted to
opena@marincounty.org or by mail to Attn: Climate Action Plan Update, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 308, San Rafael, CA 94903.
In addition to written comments, the County will go over details at a public workshop at 6:30 p.m. Monday, October 6, at the Marin Center Exhibit Hall (10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael). It will be a time to learn more about the Draft CAP Update 2014, ask questions and provide input. The doors will open at 6 p.m.
To learn more about the County’s climate planning efforts and RSVP for the event, visit www.marincounty.org/climate.