Costa Mesa leaders are launching an initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change over the next several decades by adopting the city’s first-ever climate action plan.
The adopted Climate Action Adaptation Plan (CAAP) outlines a 106-action roadmap and focuses efforts on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting the community from natural and environmental hazards and promoting healthy, equitable and resilient communities.
The plan aims to accomplish these goals by reducing vehicle miles traveled for gas-powered cars — primarily by transitioning to electric vehicles and increasing the use of public transportation, walking and biking, among other goals.
The plan also looks to reduce water use and energy demand in buildings and increase carbon-free energy supply.
While California state law mandates certain environmental regulations, greenhouse gas emissions forecasts and analyses show that state-level rules alone will not reduce local emission enough to hit 2030 and 2045 targets, according to city staff.
Costa Mesa’s proposed plan is meant to help bridge those emission gaps.
“The CAAP is intended to serve as a formalized pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and adapt to the effects of climate change on our community,” Public Affairs Manager Tony Dodero wrote in an email to Voice of OC.
City council members approved the plan in a 5-2 vote last month. Councilmembers Jeff Pettis and Mike Buley voted no, citing concerns about budget and whether the formal plan was necessary.
Some residents have also raised concerns about city priorities.
“Good luck with your expensive plan,” Costa Mesa resident Jeff Gibbs wrote in an email to the city. “I would prefer you would fix the potholes, clean up the trash on the streets/sidewalks/parking lots, plant more trees and fields, and make it a better community rather than dream of one.”
Other residents showed support for the plan yet urged the city to look for trends regarding the reasoning for these climate issues.
“It makes me super excited to see that Costa Mesa is developing a Climate Action & Adaptation Plan. I was born and raised in Costa Mesa, so it’s beautiful to see how the City can implement strategies,” resident Sarita Plata wrote.
“Overall, my greatest recommendation is to be more explicit with environmental justice. Several sections failed to showcase how these climate actions interconnect with racial & economic inequalities.”
City leaders have been working on the climate action plan for the past five years, aiming to create the document that roadmaps the city’s goals.
To address community emissions, the plan establishes a framework of eight sectors that reflect the sources of emissions and objectives. These sectors include on-road transportation, energy and buildings, waste and wastewater, solid waste, off-road equipment, natural and urban lands, people and community, and municipal operations.
The primary objectives of these actions include supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles, improving urban infrastructure, promoting water conservation, supporting waste prevention, improving public awareness and incentives, and municipal monitoring.
The city has pushed for the plan to be more engaged within the community.
“One primary concern brought forth by our elected officials was to ensure the CAAP would be more an incentive-based plan and less-prescriptive plan,” Dodero wrote.
Creating an incentive-based plan is meant to encourage residents to be more proactive in their involvement with climate reform. The plan outlines some incentives like rebates and funding opportunities for residents and businesses that take voluntary actions that align with climate goals.
“Moving forward with an incentive-based plan allows for additional education and outreach opportunities and provides the City with more flexibility in implementation,” Dodero wrote.
Though city leaders mostly agreed that the intention of the plan is important, some officials expressed concerns over budgeting and city resources.
Councilmember Buley said that the climate action plan does not provide anything that cannot be accomplished without adopting it, adding that the extensive staff time and resources are unnecessary as the state mandates already allow for a lot of these climate issues to be addressed.
Councilmember Pettis agreed.
“Before committing to yet another long term policy initiative, I believe we need a clear understanding of the total implementation cost including staffing, consultants and future capital expenditures,” Pettis said at the meeting on Oct. 20.
Other leaders said the climate action plan is critical.
At the meeting, Councilmember Andrea Marr said establishing the plan allows for access to certain funding, including grants.
“There’s a huge amount of money that if we don’t have this plan, we have a lesser chance of accessing.”
The Collegiate News Service is a partnership between Voice of OC and local student journalists. Contact the Collegiate News Service Editor Angelina Hicks at ahicks@voiceofoc.org
