San Diego launches climate action dashboard

San Diego has launched its latest Climate Action Plan (CAP) along with an online dashboard that enables the public to track progress on its environmental goals.

The city reported that while the reduction of greenhouses gases detailed in its annual report are “modest”, it provides a “needed overview” of efforts to combat climate change and to transition to a sustainable future.

“The climate dashboard is a tremendous tool which enables us to systematically report and make our climate data public,” said Heather Werner, Interim Director of the City’s Sustainability and Mobility Department.

“It’s accessible to everyone, and it’s very comprehensive because our plan is so ambitious.”

The CAP has set a goal of net-zero greenhouse gases by 2035, committing the city to an accelerated trajectory for emissions reductions.

Strategies included in the report range from enhancing bicycle infrastructure to installing new public electric vehicle charging stations.

Targets

The city emitted the equivalent of 8.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2022, the most recent year with available data.

Residents will have to cut that number in half by 2030 to meet targets, meaning emissions reductions will have to accelerate over the next few years.

In order to engage San Diegans in tracking that progress, the new dashboard will serve as a central platform for up-to-date data collection and distribution, enabling stakeholders to monitor key metrics and track progress on individual CAP actions.

The dashboard includes detailed action pages, task lists and due dates, allowing users to sort through 190 individual actions identified in the city’s 2022 update to its Climate Action Plan.

“The goals in our updated CAP underscore our unwavering commitment to creating a sustainable, equitable and resilient future for our city,” said Shelby Rust Buso, the City’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

“While the reductions in greenhouse gases represent important progress, they also serve as a reminder of the significant work that lies ahead. Our updated CAP is designed to tackle these challenges head-on, with innovative solutions aimed at accelerating our transition to a low-carbon future.”

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