CLIMATE ACTION PLAN UPDATE

CAP Update Adoption Public Hearing


On September 11, 2024, the Board of Supervisors adopted the 2024 Climate Action Plan. The Final 2024 CAP project documents will be posted online soon. This website will be updated to reflect the 2024 CAP. Read more about the 2024 CAP.

Click the button to review the Draft Final CAP Update project documents that were presented to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration.

Project Background and Timeline



On September 30, 2020, the County of San Diego (County) Board of Supervisors voted to set aside its approval of the County’s 2018 Climate Action Plan (2018 CAP) and related actions because the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (2018 CAP SEIR) was found to be out of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

In response to this Board action, staff are preparing a Climate Action Plan Update (CAP Update) to revise the 2018 CAP and correct the items identified by the Court within the Final 2018 CAP SEIR that were not compliant.

The overall objective of the CAP Update is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from activities within the unincorporated county (community) and GHG emissions generated by County facilities and operational activities throughout the county, including facilities and operations located within incorporated cities (County operations), to meet and exceed GHG reduction goals under State laws.

The County is committed to creating a CAP Update that serves the community and our mission to protect the public’s health and safety, sustain the environment, and improve the quality of life for our residents.

The Draft Final CAP Update considers strategies, measures, and actions organized under five emissions reduction sectors:

Built Environment & Transportation

Energy

Solid Waste

Water & Waste Water

Agriculture & Conservation


Pending adoption of the CAP Update, the County will continue to implement the 26 GHG reduction measures and sustainability initiatives/programs identified in the 2018 CAP to reduce GHG emissions as part of its ongoing commitment to the environment and to meet the State’s 2030 reduction target.

Public Participation


Would you like to learn more about the County’s Climate Action Plan Update? We are offering presentations to community groups, residents, business owners, employees, and other stakeholders in the unincorporated county who would like to learn about the CAP Update and provide feedback. 

Email us at cap@sdcounty.ca.gov to connect with us.

Past Public Workshops

Access all previous CAP Update workshop presentations.

Project Materials


The CAP Update establishes a new baseline inventory of community and County operations GHG emissions sources and projects these emissions through 2050.

New GHG emission reduction targets were developed for 2030 and 2045, with an additional net zero goal for 2045. Each are based upon State legislated reduction targets and Board direction. A revised set of GHG reduction measures were identified to mitigate emissions from community and County operations emission sources to meet the 2030 and 2045 GHG emission reduction targets. A Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) has been prepared for the CAP Update project to evaluate potential environmental impacts of the CAP Update, ways to mitigate those impacts, and alternatives that may lessen those impacts. Access the Draft Final CAP Update project materials.

As part of the CAP Update project, the County has prepared Smart Growth Alternatives for analysis in the CAP Update SEIR.

As part of this process, a Land Use Overlay mapping application was developed to show information from the County that may be considered as the Climate Action Plan Update is prepared.

Board Direction and Staff Reports


County of San Diego

County of San Diego


The County has jurisdiction over the unincorporated areas within the county which are generally east and north of the City of San Diego, noted in dark grey on the map. The unincorporated area encompasses approximately 3,570 square miles with a population of 454,599 residents. The unincorporated area is home to 26 distinct communities that vary from suburban densities adjacent to incorporated cities (i.e., Lakeside, Spring Valley, and Sweetwater), to low density rural communities (i.e., Borrego Springs, Descano, and Pine Valley) surrounded by hillsides, deserts, and agricultural lands. The unincorporated county's most developed communities are located along the unincorporated county's westernmost boundaries where access to public facilities such as water, sewer, roads, and schools is readily available. 

Unincorporated lands are biologically rich and diverse, and are comprised of natural features that include lagoons, foothills, mountain ranges, and deserts. Large federal, state, and regional parklands cover much of the eastern portion of the county. Tribal lands comprise 5.7% of the land area and agricultural lands account for a large proportion of the privately-owned lands. 

Aligning with County Sustainability Efforts


The County's Climate Action Plan is aligned with and builds upon many other County efforts through complementary implementation-focused actions.