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Home My Public Portal About2020-02-25 Item 7CITY COUNCILAGENDA REPORTIT?<?%^s^0CITY OF MILLBRAE621 Magnolia AvenueMiIIbrae, CA 94030SUBJECT: Informational Report on the Draft ClimateAction PlanATTACHMENTS: (1) Executive Summary and DraftClimate Action PlanReport No. ^q- Z-*4For Agenda of: Febmary 25, 2020Department: Public WorksOriginator: J^tejKaoApproved:/^v^Budget ActionYes:No: XFinance RlINFORMATIONAL XREPORT TYPE: ACTIONITEM TYPE: CONSENT PUBLIC HEARINGEXISTING BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS XRECOMMENDATION:Staff recommends receiving the informational report on the draft Climate Action Plan.BACKGROUND:The challenge of climate change is unprecedented. There is a broad international consensus amongatmospheric scientists that the Earth's climate system is being destabilized in response to elevated levelsof greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the atmosphere. This is primarily from the combustion of fossilfuels for energy use. GHG emissions include carbon dioxide (C02), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide(N20), and three man-made gases: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfurhexafluoride (SFg).Climate change refers to all aspects of climate, including disruptions to weather patterns that includeshrinking of glaciers, accelerated sea level rise, more intense heat waves, shifts in animal and plantranges, and changes in the timing of plant reproduction. Climate change is also affecting land and waterresources, transportation, and human health and welfare across the United States. During the past 50years, California and western North America have experienced warmer winter and spring temperatures,reduced spring snow levels in mountains and earlier snowpack melt, and increased wildfires. Other partsof the country are also experiencing extreme weather patterns, and the effects of climate change arebeing realized around the world.Avoiding the most severe climate system outcomes will require keeping the total global averagewarming to below 2° C/3.60 F relative to pre-industrial levels (about 1.1° C/2° F above present levels), aconsensus which was reached as a part of the Paris Agreement (Agreement), which was signed by 174countries and the European Union in 2016 at the United Nations Framework Convention of ClimateChange. The Agreement's goal is to limit the increase to 1.5°C, or 2.7°F. In 2018, the globalatmospheric concentration of C02 passed 407 parts per million (ppm). Atmospheric concentrations ofcarbon dioxide would need to peak below about 400 to 450 ppm, and stabilize in the long term aroundtoday's levels. Achieving this goal requires that global GHG emissions are reduced by at least 45%below 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by the year 2050.Page 1 of 3 Local-level solutions can reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, promote economic development,and improve the quality of life for the community. Staff has been working regionally on climate changeplanning with the County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability (OOS), which administers theRegionally Integrated Climate Action Planning Suite (RICAPS) Program in collaboration with andfunded by the City and County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG). RICAPS isa partnership that has engaged all of the cities in the County in climate action planning andimplementation.Utilizing resources from RICAPS, a draft Climate Action Plan (CAP) was created to establish policies,set targets for reducing GHG emissions, and outline measures to meet the targets. The original intentwas to adopt the CAP with the General Plan which would include the overall climate policies, and tooptimize efficiencies with outreach and environmental impact reporting and funding. Due to the timingand direction for the General Plan, staff recommends releasing the draft CAP ahead of the General Planin order to start implementing the policies and measures to achieve GHG emissions reductions. Thepolicies in the CAP will still be included in the General Plan.The City has implemented a number of environmental programs for many years, some in response toState laws, all of which have reduced GHG emissions. The environmental programs include reducingwaste, conserving water, saving energy, and preventing water pollution for residents, businesses,schools, and City facilities. Outreach, education, and hands-on assistance are cornerstones of theprograms. The City has also been recognized by the Institute for Local Government's Beacon Programfor its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. In 2015 and 2016, the City was awarded The Beacon Award:Local Leadership toward Solving Climate Change. In 2016, the City received Platinum and SilverBeacon Awards in three categories— for community GHG reductions, for energy savings of 42% formunicipal operations, and for sustainable practices. In 2016, the City received a Gold Beacon Award forreducing municipal operation greenhouse gases by 15% between the years 2010 and 2015. New levels ofachievement will be recognized at the next Beacon award ceremony.ANALYSIS:A CAP provides a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gases based on a community's GHG emissions invarious sectors. The RICAPS Program has provided GHG emissions inventories to date through 2015,and are finalizing the 2016 and 2017 inventories. To measure GHG emissions reductions, the currentinventoried year is compared to the base year inventory. For Millbrae and most communities in SanMateo County, the base year is 2005. Based on preliminary data from the 2016 and 2017 GHGemissions inventories, it is estimated that Millbrae's emissions have been reduced by approximately20% for 2017.The approximate base year percentage of GHG emissions per sector are 58% for transportation, 22% forresidential, 18% for commercial/industrial, 1.7% for solid waste, and 0.04% for wastewater.Transportation and building energy use for the residential and commercial sectors are the largest sectorsof emissions.A previous City Council had adopted GHG emissions reduction targets of 15% below the 2005 baselinelevel by 2020 and 80% by 2050 to be aligned with Assembly Bill 32. The draft CAP sets a new GHGreduction target of 49% below 2005 levels by 2030 in line with Senate Bill 32 and includes an interimtarget of 32% below 2005 levels by 2025.The draft CAP includes a prioritized list of actions to reduce GHG emissions and contains a mix ofvoluntary strategies and mandatory policies. A number of strategies in the CAP are ones in place due tothe long-standing coinmitment to and implementation of the City's environmental programs. OtherPage 2 of 3 strategies are newly proposed policies or programs. Several of the emissions reductions will come fromState and countywide transportation and building strategies.The sectors in the draft CAP are Energy (includes water conservation). Transportation and Land Use,Solid Waste, and All Sectors (the Green Business Program, which touches upon all sectors). Thefollowing are a few of the measures included in the draft CAP. A full listing of the measures are inAttachment 1. In addition to these measures, there are County and State initiatives that help the City toachieve the GHG emissions reduction targets.Residential and Commercial Energy and Water Measures: Start a voluntary residential andcommercial program to encourage minimum energy efficiency and water efficiency standards at thetime of building sale and to transition to a mandatory energy conservation ordinance over time; continuepromoting participation in residential energy efficiency programs; leverage incentives provided byPeninsula Clean Energy to encourage residents and businesses to upgrade existing electric panels toaccommodate all-electric technologies; and continue promoting existing and new rebates for waterefficient appliances and fixtures.Transportation and Land Use Measures: Increase electric vehicle (EV) ownership through education,outreach, and expansion of EV charging infrastructure at both public and private facilities; continueSmart Growth Policy that prioritizes infill, higher density, and transportation-oriented and mixed-usedevelopment; create an efficient fleet policy for municipal operations; and accommodate shared electricbikes and scooters that provide last-mile solutions for residents and commuters.Solid Waste Measures: Increase participation in recycling programs and weekly collection ofrecyclables and organic waste to achieve 85% diversion; implement a Zero Waste Policy for Cityoperations; and revise the municipal operations Administrative Standard Procedures for theEnvironmental Policy to strengthen sustainable purchasing procedures.All Sectors - Green Business Program Measures: Continue implementing the Green BusinessProgram that allows businesses to brand themselves as green by following sustainable practices.The CAP, through a combination of State and City measures, outlines a path to reducing GHG emissionsfrom 2005 levels by 2030 by 47% for energy emissions, 58% for transportation emissions, and 90% forsolid waste emissions.The CAP also includes information and strategy options for adaptation to manage risks from climateimpacts, protect communities, and strengthen the resilience of the economy. The City has taken actionwith assessing sea level rise. Staff is working with the County to create a separate plan for adaptation.The Infrastructure Subcommittee met on January 31, 2020 to review the draft CAP. The next steps willbe to release the draft CAP, conduct broad public outreach to gain community input over the nextseveral months, present the draft CAP to the Planning Commission, and bring the final CAP to the CityCouncil for adoption in July 2020.FISCAL IMPACT:None.COUNCIL ACTION:Receive informational report on the draft Climate Action Plan.Page 3 of 3