SAN DIEGO–In an effort to raise awareness of the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan and regional sustainability efforts, the City is taking part in the Global Climate Action Summit Sept. 12 – 14 in San Francisco, an event bringing together leaders in climate action from around the world to share strategies and solutions.
“Here in San Diego, we’re setting a standard for other cities to follow when it comes to our environment and our economy,” said Mayor Kevin Faulconer. “Through the collective actions of our residents, business leaders and the public sector, our city is on the path to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 and I’m proud of the work we’re doing to achieve that goal.”
During the Global Climate Action Summit, Chief Sustainability Officer Cody Hooven will join a panel of local leaders in San Francisco to speak during an event called “Climate Action on the Shoulders of Science and Industry: A San Diego Story.” The panel discussion on Thursday, Sept. 13 is sponsored by Cleantech San Diego and will showcase San Diego’s clean energy and climate action leadership.
“San Diego is receiving international attention as a city leading the way to lower greenhouse gas emissions and in preparing for the impacts of climate change,” said Hooven. “I’m thrilled to participate in the Global Climate Action Summit and represent our city’s efforts to create a sustainable community and improve our quality of life.”
Highlights of the Global Climate Action Summit include presentations by world leaders from six continents; business executives from Starbucks, Microsoft, IKEA and many other high-profile companies; experts from National Geographic and The Weather Channel; and conservationists and celebrities including Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Harrison Ford and Dave Matthews.
To coincide with the summit, a new video showcases strategies of the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan as told through the stories of San Diego residents and business owners. The video features a South Park resident who rides her bike to work, a local coffee shop that participates in the Food2Soil composting program, a resident who benefitted from the City’s Free Tree Program, and the community of Skyline Hills where residents are having solar panels installed on their homes for free.
Also featured in the video is Measurabl, a San Diego start-up company helping commercial buildings measure and benchmark their energy and water use. Watch the video and learn more about the City’s sustainability efforts by visiting sandiego.gov/Sustainability.
In the coming weeks, the City will release the 2018 Annual Report detailing progress on the Climate Action Plan. Approved in 2015, the City’s Climate Action Plan calls for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent and aims for all electricity used in the city to be from renewable sources by 2035. Strategies to help the City achieve these goals include water and energy efficiency, zero waste, mobility, clean and renewable energy, and climate resiliency.
