SLOOS-_Climate Action Pictogram 2 - CROPPED

Climate action is consistently identified as a top issue by local residents. In responding to this priority, the City adopted a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035: the Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery. This effort is among the most ambitious in the nation and will require collaboration throughout the community. 

In 2022, the City adopted the Climate Action Plan 2023-27 Work Program to provide an updated and innovative set of implementation tasks to guide the next several years of climate action in San Luis Obispo. 

The City is committed to the "action" part of "climate action." Since the adoption of the 2020 Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery, the City has made substantial progress on advancing climate action in the community: 

  • Active Transportation: In February 2021 City Council adopted San Luis Obispo’s first Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The City has made quick and impactful strides implementing the Active Transportation Plan. Notable completed projects include the Railroad Safety Trail Bridge connecting Phillips to Pepper Street, protected bike lanes on Marsh Street and Higuera Street, and the pedestrian hybrid beacon on Broad Street at Woodbridge.  

  • Clean Electricity: On January 1, 2020, the City began receiving energy from Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE), a Community Choice Energy program that provides clean electricity with a rate savings. CCCE is directly investing in renewable energy generation assets and working to procure 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030.  

  • Carbon Sequestration:  In 2022, the City completed a carbon sequestration study with assistance from the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District and implemented a pilot compost application project at Johnson Ranch. The 1.2-acre pilot project benefited from Cal Poly’s faculty and prepared the City to expand the program to include additional practices and sites.  

  • Tree Planting: The City’s 10 Tall initiative to plant 10,000 trees by 2035 is also underway and strong partnerships and volunteer networks have been developed. The City’s first ever Community Forest Plan is also nearing completion and the Public Works Department is bringing forward new approaches to optimize the Urban Forestry Division in order to meet the City’s goals. 

  • Lead by Example: The City adopted the Lead by Example Plan in 2021 to provide a roadmap for the City to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions in all areas under municipal control. Recent “Lead by Example” projects include: lighting retrofits, the installation of a large battery storage facility at the Water Treatment Plant, fleet electric vehicle chargers and delivery of the first all-electric fleet vehicles. 

  • Organic Waste: SB 1383 is landmark climate legislation passed in 2016 by the state of California that reduces short-lived climate pollution by targeting reductions in landfilled organic waste. The City has proactively worked towards compliance with SB 1383 and on November 16th, 2021, the City adopted an ordinance requiring all residents and businesses to utilize organic waste collection services by 2022. 

  • Climate Resilience: The City is preparing to adapt to the impacts of climate change through a planning initiative called Resilient SLO. Resilient SLO aims to help the community effectively prepare for future climate threats while keeping people and infrastructure safe.  Under the Resilient SLO initiative, the City is updating the Safety Element to help the community effectively prepare for future climate threats and natural hazards while keeping people and infrastructure safe.

 

You can contribute to the Climate Action Plan and do your part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the following ways:

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