CAP UPDATE PROJECT MATERIALS


CAP Update


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

May 24, 2023

The County held a virtual workshop on May 24, 2023 to provide an update on the CAP Update and receive public feedback.


March 21, 2023

The County held a virtual workshop on March 21, 2023 to work collaboratively with the public to develop a definition of climate co-benefits and discuss a tool being developed that will ensure the community’s input is incorporated into the County’s Climate Action Plan.


Measure Development Workshop Series - Draft Strategies and Conceptual Measures

The County held a workshop series during Summer 2022 to provide examples of draft strategies and conceptual measures to meet the unincorporated county's vision of an equitable net-zero emissions future within the solid waste, water and wastewater, energy, agriculture and conservation, and built environment and transportation sectors. Each workshop provided an overview of the CAP Update project components and presented draft vision statements and conceptual measures for each individual sector. Public input was solicited through interactive poll questions and discussion forum.

August 24, 2022 - Built Environment & Transportation

July 19, 2022 - Agriculture & Conservation

June 28, 2022 - Energy

June 15, 2022 - Water & Wastewater

June 1, 2022 - Solid Waste


Environmental Justice Community Workshops

As part of the public involvement process for the CAP Update, the County conducted intentional engagement within Environmental Justice Communities (EJCs) during Winter 2021/2022 to gather input and recommendations for the Climate Action Plan. EJCs are designated and defined in the San Diego County’s Environmental Justice Element.

  Fact Sheets  English       Español       Tagalog     
  Content Boards     English       Español       Tagalog

  Summary of Input   

 Sweetwater     

 Spring Valley     

 North El Cajon     

Measure Development Workshop Series - Sector Vision Statements

The County held a workshop series during Summer/Fall 2021 to provide an overview of the CAP project components and act as a foundation for developing vision statements of an equitable, net-zero carbon emissions future within the energy, water and wastewater, solid waste, built environment and transportation, and agriculture and conservation sectors. Public input was solicited through interactive poll questions and discussion forum. Feedback received was used to inform the preparation of the vision statements.

September 29, 2021 - Agriculture & Conservation

August 25, 2021 - Built Environment & Transportation

July 28, 2021 - Energy, Water & Wastewater, and Solid Waste


June 30, 2021

To comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the County is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Supplemental EIR) that evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) Update. The Supplemental EIR will include new project alternatives including at least one smart growth alternative to reduce vehicle miles traveled. The smart growth alternative may describe ways to achieve a more compact, efficient, and environmentally sensitive pattern of development in the unincorporated county that focuses future growth away from rural areas and closer to existing and planned job centers and public facilities, while preserving open space and making more efficient use of existing urban infrastructure. At this workshop, the County presented an overview of the CAP Update, described our goals and objectives related to developing a smart growth alternative for inclusion in the Supplemental EIR, and solicited feedback from attendees to aid in the development of smart growth alternatives for the project.


June 2, 2021

The County’s Sustainability Planning Division hosted an Equity-Focused virtual public workshop on June 2, 2021, with the help of facilitators from Mixte Communications. The event drew 60 people and acted as a platform for discussion for the inclusion of equity in the CAP Update. Throughout the workshop, attendees participated in the discussion through interactive polling questions, and staff answered questions throughout the presentation and during an open discussion session at the end of the event.


April 21, 2021

The County’s Sustainability Planning Division advanced the CAP Update project at a virtual public workshop on April 21, 2021. The event drew more than 100 attendees and included a presentation on the project background, objectives, components, and timeline. Throughout the presentation, attendees participated in the discussion through interactive polling questions, and staff answered questions throughout the presentation and during an open discussion session at the end of the event

CAP Update Supplemental EIR


*Notice of Preparation Public Review Comments Due February 4, 2021*

PROJECT NUMBER(S):          PDS2020-POD-20-016 and PDS2020-GPA-20-004

ENV. REVIEW NUMBER:        PDS2020-ER-20-00-002

Project Description

A Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Supplemental EIR) will be prepared for the CAP Update project. The project will include preparation of an updated GHG Emissions Inventory and Projections and preparation of updated GHG Emissions Targets to determine if additional or revised measures are needed.

To incorporate GHG reduction goals under new State laws adopted since 2011, the project will include amendments to Goal COS-20 and Policy COS-20.1 of the General Plan and 2011 GPU PEIR Mitigation Measures CC-1.2, CC-1.7, and CC-1.8, similar to the 2018 CAP. Policy COS-20.1 was also amended in 2018 so that the CAP could be used in the analysis of cumulative GHG impacts of projects covered by the CAP (e.g., projects consistent with density allowed in the General Plan), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15183.5. The amendments to Goal COS-20 and Policy COS-20.1, a threshold of significance for GHGs, and a revised Guidelines will be required. These actions, analysis of GHG reduction measures, and any other action necessary to comply with CEQA will be analyzed in the Supplemental EIR for the project.

Notice of Preparation

On December 10, 2020, the County sent public notice that a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (Supplemental EIR) will be prepared for the CAP Update. The County seeks input from the public and agencies on potential environmental impacts of the CAP Update, ways to mitigate those impacts, and alternatives that may lessen those impacts. The County also seeks input on potential GHG reduction strategies and measures to be included in the CAP Update.

Comments on this Notice of Preparation document were accepted for 57 days following the issuance of the first notice on December 10, 2020, and must be received no later than February 4, 2021. The County provided 27 extra days.

Comment letters may be submitted electronically via e-mail at: CAP@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Revised County of San Diego CAP Update Notice of Preparation

Project Public Scoping Meeting

Consistent with Section 21083.9 of the CEQA Statutes, a public scoping meeting was held virtually on January 28, 2021 to solicit comments regarding the scope and analysis of the Supplemental EIR.

County of San Diego CAP Update - Scoping Meeting Presentation (01/28/2021)

Land Use Overlays

This Mapping Application is intended to show information from the County of San Diego that may be considered as the County prepares the Climate Action Plan Update.