San Rafael, CA – The timing is perfect for Marin County residents to share their visions about climate change adaption for the next five to 10 years. County of Marin planners are working on Marin County Climate Action Plan 2030, which will put sustainability goals in focus for the entire community.
Marin's draft Climate Action Plan 2030 should be ready for presentation to the Board of Supervisors by the end of 2020.Subject matter experts will join the crew from the Marin County Sustainability Team at a free community workshop at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 12, at Marin Center’s Exhibit Hall.
“Thankfully we have a lot of passionate people in Marin who are already engaged in our climate efforts,” said Dana Armanino, the County’s Principal Sustainability Planner. “We are looking forward to getting input from those residents but also newcomers who are just starting to get engaged and committed to preservation and reducing carbon footprints.”
The Sustainability Team from the Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) plans to conduct a second public workshop in the late summer and bring the draft Climate Action Plan 2030 to the Marin County Board of Supervisors by the end of the calendar year. Marin is attempting to stay ahead of the curve and be on track to meet or exceed the state’s carbon reduction targets for 2050.
“Major decisions about our long-term approach to local carbon emission reduction efforts are going to be made in the coming year,” Armanino said. “At this workshop, we’ll take a hard look at our achievements and how far we have to go to reach out goals.”
Marin was one of the first counties in California to take formal action to address greenhouse gas emissions 15 years ago, and it adopted a Climate Action Plan update in 2015 to provide more aggressive goals on emission reductions. Since the beginning of the effort, the County has:
- encouraged the use of energy from renewable sources;
- supported power-saving efficiency programs;
- promoted carbon-reducing agricultural practices;
- supported alternative transportation programs;
- promoted waste reduction, reuse and recycling programs, and;
- pushed for water conservation.
The initiatives are working. The County is 24% below its 2005 greenhouse gas emission levels.
The February 12 event will include breakout sessions in which a subject matter expert will lead exercises to identify potential measures in particular facets of climate change policy.
The event will take place in the Friends of Marin Center Room, located near the east (bayside) entrance to the Marin Center complex behind Veterans Memorial Auditorium. There is limited seating, so make sure to RSVP online. For more information, call 415-473-2698.
To learn more about the County’s climate planning efforts and RSVP for the events, visit www.marinsustainability.org/climate.
All public meetings and events sponsored or conducted by the County of Marin are held at accessible sites. If you are a person with a disability and require information or materials in alternative formats – or if you require accommodation to participate in a county program, service or activity – please contact department staff by email or at 415-473-7331 or 415-473-4381 (voice/TTY).