Sacramento joins other cities, counties in declaring climate emergency
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg with climate activist Supriya Patel, 13, at the Sept. 20 climate strike at the state Capitol.
On Tuesday, December 10, the Sacramento City Council approved a Climate Emergency Declaration. The declaration acknowledges the existential threat of climate change and the irrefutable science demanding the urgent need for climate action.
“The Climate Emergency Declaration represents another major step forward for the City of Sacramento in taking urgent action to fight back against this accelerating global crisis,” said Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “I have heard our community, especially our young climate activists, who have spoken so eloquently to urge those of us in elected office to protect their future through deliberate action. We must work together to drive down emissions, transform our economy, and include everyone in a just transition.”
The Mayors’ Climate Commission, created by Mayor Steinberg and Mayor Cabaldon of West Sacramento, will develop a common vision and set of strategies for both cities to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, referred to as carbon zero, by 2045. The strategies will be forwarded to the cities for inclusion in their Climate Action Plans and in Sacramento’s 2040 General Plan Update.
The City of Sacramento Climate Emergency Declaration commits the city to build on existing climate commitments and to accelerate municipal and community carbon elimination in the short term, with maximum feasible efforts to implement carbon reduction actions towards eliminating emissions by 2030 as much as possible, recognizing the goal can only be achieved through collaboration with regional partners as well as appropriate financial and regulatory assistance from state and federal authorities.
The City is focused on activities in the largest carbon-emitting sectors — the built environment and transportation. Electrification of buildings and vehicles, more active transportation and transit options increasing the use of renewable energy are critical to reducing carbon. We will also enhance the carbon storage in our city landscapes through activities such as extensive tree plantings and urban gardens.
According to The Climate Mobilization website, over 1,200 localities around the world have declared a climate emergency. Sacramento joins 29 other cities and counties in California to have taken formal action to adopt a climate emergency, including Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose.
More information on the Mayors’ Climate Commission is available here. For more information on the City’s 2040 General Plan Update click here.
Mayor Steinberg meets with high school students participating in the High School Climate Summit.
