In recent years, nearly all of the San Diego region’s 19 local governments have adopted a Climate Action Plan (CAP) or are in the process of creating one. CAPs for members of the Regional Climate Action Planning Framework agencies, including the City of Del Mar, City of Encinitas, City of Escondido, City of Solana Beach, City of La Mesa, City of Oceanside, City of Imperial Beach, City of Lemon Grove and the City of San Marcos can be found on SANDAG’s website along with a regional Climate Action Data Portal that provides climate data such as greenhouse gas inventory and climate activity data.

Both the  County of San Diego and  City of San Diego offer CAPs outside of the SANDAG site, Additionally, the County of San Diego has embarked on a Climate Action Plan Update, which includes a net-zero emissions goal, and is developing a Regional Decarbonization Framework to evaluate zero-carbon strategies for the whole San Diego region. Jurisdictions in the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative take action to address the factors contributing to climate change and support regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for local climate change impacts.

The Multi-hazard Mitigation Plan is a countywide plan that identifies risks and ways to minimize damage by natural and manmade disasters that also involves multiple jurisdictions, including the County of San Diego, City of Carlsbad, City of Chula Vista, City of Coronado, City of Del Mar, City of El Cajon, City of Encinitas, City of Escondido, City of Imperial Beach, City of La Mesa, City of National City, City of Oceanside, City of San Diego, City of San Marcos, City of Santee, and the City of Solana Beach.

Community engagement activities have included the El Cajon Collaborative’s heat focus group to provide input to the Desert Research Institute as part of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration International Research and Applications Project, and Community Health Improvement Partners coordinating a Climate Change Resource Day for the RLA Network focused on the public health impacts of climate change, in collaboration with speakers from the University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Pala Band of Mission Indians. 

The City of Imperial Beach has also implemented Resilient Futures, a wave and flood monitoring and forecast project to prepare for rising sea levels. One initiative within the project is the Bayshore Bikeway Resiliency Project, a multi-purpose coastal bike path that also serves as protection for low-lying neighborhoods along the San Diego Bay.

The County of San Diego created a Climate and Environmental Justice Office to help reduce community exposures to health hazards such as air pollution and toxic chemicals, particularly for those communities disproportionately impacted – largely communities of color. They also incorporated a new Environmental Justice Element to their general plan to promote fair treatment for people of all races, cultures, and incomes when it comes to having access to safe and livable communities, and opportunities for civic engagement. The City of San Diego is also working on an Environmental Justice element to their general plan and released an environmental justice survey to learn about the environmental priorities within its communities, with over 1,700 respondents recommending actions to improve air quality and natural spaces with renewable energy and increased transportation options topping the list. 

Getting the community involved in pollution prevention promotes civic engagement and awareness of the importance of sustainability and environmental protection. Partners have worked diligently over the past year to ensure community involvement and education as we build new generations of environmental advocates.

Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world; San Diego is no exception. They’ve topped annual beach cleanup counts, accounting for as many as 1 in every 4 items found. Far from benign, cigarette butts are made from plastic – which does not biodegrade in the marine environment – and contain hundreds of poisonous chemicals. Indeed, just one smoked butt in a liter of water can kill a fish.

“Add to this the hazardous waste from cartridges, batteries, and circuit boards of discarded electronic cigarettes, and it is clear that tobacco product waste significantly contributes to land, coastal, and water pollution.” 

Georg Matt, a psychology professor and lead researcher on the SDSU project.