How the 2022 S/CAP Was Created
In 2020, the City began updating the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) to frame how Palo Alto would reach its sustainability goals, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels. Hearing from the community was a key part of the process.
The City had originally planned in-person workshops and listening sessions, but the COVID-19 pandemic required switch to virtual outreach. Starting in September 2020, the City hosted online community workshops and webinars highlighting S/CAP topics. An online survey in 2021 gave residents another way to share input to help guide discussions with the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee and City Council.
In October 2022, City Council approved the updated S/CAP Goals and Key Actions. With this approval, staff were able to move forward with State evaluation of the S/CAP under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In June 2023, the City Council adopted the final 2022 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan(PDF, 6MB) and accepted the first S/CAP Work Plan(PDF, 741KB). An updated Work Plan(PDF, 297KB) was accepted in 2026 to continue guiding the work.
Archive: Events and Documents
Community Events and Meetings
Webinar recordings are available below and on the City's YouTube Sustainability Playlist. For upcoming events and meetings relating to S/CAP implementation, see the Sustainability Calendar.
City Council Adopts the S/CAP
On June 5, 2023 City Council adopted the updated Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP), a major step in advancing the City’s sustainability and climate action goals. Council reviewed and approved:
- Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Report
(PDF, 6MB) The S/CAP serves as the roadmap to reduce emissions and achieve our sustainability goals. The S/CAP represents a collaboration between City of Palo Alto staff, the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee, and the Palo Alto community.
- Comprehensive Plan Environmental Impact Report Addendum: Update to the S/CAP(PDF, 943KB), Resolution 10112
(PDF, 302KB) California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) certification of the S/CAP, in the form of an addendum to the Environmental Impact Report for the City's 2030 Comprehensive Plan, ensures that future development and planning activities within the City conform to the objectives of the S/CAP and statewide climate legislation.
- 2023-2025 S/CAP Workplan
(PDF, 741KB) The 2023–2025 S/CAP Workplan expands on the S/CAP key actions to guide staff on implementation priorities over the next three years and breaks up the work into two sections. The Climate Action section of the workplan focuses on launching high impact emissions reduction programs, building community confidence in the S/CAP, and laying the foundation for post 2025 work. The Sustainability section focuses on reducing waste, creating a sustainable and holistically managed water system, adapting to climate change, and enhancing the City’s urban canopy.
- 2023 Earth Day Report: Palo Alto's 2021 GHG Inventory
(PDF, 439KB) The 2023 Earth Day Report contains Palo Alto’s 2021 GHG Inventory. Understanding where emissions come from is the first step to taking meaningful emissions reduction action. In 2021, Palo Alto reduced emissions 53.9% below 1990 levels, despite a 19.5% population increase during that same time period.
To watch the June 5, 2023 City Council meeting, read the staff report, or download the presentation slides, visit this page and go to Agenda Item 14.
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Ad Hoc Committee Meetings
The Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Ad Hoc Committee was formed by City Council on April 19, 2021 to guide the development, implementation, communication, and community engagement of the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP). This City Council Ad Hoc committee complemented the work of the City Council and Staff on our sustainability and climate action efforts to help finalize the S/CAP. The Ad Hoc Committee concluded it's work in 2023, after City Council unanimously adopted the S/CAP.
| Date |
S/CAP Ad Hoc Topic |
Resources |
| 11/30/2023 |
S/CAP Progress and 100% Renewable Energy |
|
| 5/24/2023 |
S/CAP Update and Three-Year Work Plan
|
|
| 4/14/2022 |
Carbon Neutrality |
|
| 2/10/2022 |
Funding and Financing |
|
| 1/13/2022 |
Wildfires and Sea Level Rise |
|
| 12/9/2021 |
Mobility |
|
| 11/4/2021 |
Electric Vehicles |
|
| 10/14/2021 |
Non-Residential Building Electrification |
|
| 9/9/2021 |
Residential Building Electrification |
|
| 8/12/2021 |
Kick-Off Meeting |
|
2021 Webinar Recordings
Preliminary Impact Analysis Overview
2020 Webinars and Workshops
Analysis and Development of Guiding Documents
S/CAP Goals and Key Actions
- February 2020: Proposed S/CAP Areas and Priorities
City staff proposed priorities in seven areas: Energy, Mobility, Electric Vehicles, Water, Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise, Natural Environment, and Zero Waste, which are summarized in the S/CAP Potential Areas and Priorities(PDF, 194KB) document (More details can be found in Staff Report 10941(PDF, 277KB))
- March 2020: First draft of the S/CAP Potential Goals and Key Actions
(PDF, 445KB) City Staff reviewed the goals and actions in the 2016 S/CAP Framework, the 2018-2020 Sustainability Implementation Plan, the 2018 Zero Waste Plan, the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network GHG Reduction High Impact Practices, and the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Game Changers lists to draft S/CAP Potential Goals and Key Actions(PDF, 445KB) as a starting point for discussion. The City collected feedback on the draft from Palo Alto residents through an online workshop. Learn more about the S/CAP community engagement process here.
- May 2020: Second draft of the S/CAP Potential Goals and Key Actions, with Feedback Incorporated
(PDF, 1MB) Staff reviewed all feedback received through April 30, 2020 and incorporated it into updated S/CAP Potential Goals and Key Actions(PDF, 1MB). These Goals and Key Actions, with feedback from the community incorporated, will be the foundation for the S/CAP update. The City's consultant, AECOM, conducted an impact analysis to estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential of the proposed actions, estimated costs, and additional sustainability co-benefits (such as improved local air quality or reduced cost of living).
- 2021: Third draft of the S/CAP Goals and Key Actions
(PDF, 704KB) Upon completion of the impact analysis, staff updated the S/CAP Goals and Key Actions Draft(PDF, 704KB) to better reflect the outcomes needed to achieve the 80 x 30 goal. The updated draft includes a new Climate Action area, with 8 Key Actions and a goal to reduce GHG emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2030. The Goals and Key Actions in Energy, Mobility, Electric Vehicles were reworked, but the outcomes are the same. Small changes were made to the Goals and Key Actions in Water, Climate Adaptation and Sea Level Rise, Natural Environment, and Zero Waste, with one signification change in the addition of Goals and Key Actions addressing wildfire protection.
- 2022: Final Version of the S/CAP Goals and Key Actions
Staff incorporated guidance from the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee, S/CAP Working Groups, and S/CAP Working Group teams into the fourth and final draft of the S/CAP Goals and Key Actions. Staff refined the goals to make them more consistent across areas, re-organized the Key Actions and grouped them into categories, and finalized the key performance indicators. City Council approved the final version of the S/CAP Goals and Key Actions in October 2022.
Three-Year Work Plan for S/CAP Implementation
- December 2021: First draft Three-Year Work Plan
(PDF, 211KB) The first draft of the Three-Year Work Plan details the actions reflected in the Policy Framework from the April 19, 2021 Council Meeting (see Attachment A here(PDF, 1MB)), and includes estimates of staff and funding needs for implementation and potential greenhouse gas reductions.
- June 2023: Council Approved the final draft of the 2023-2025 Three-Year Work Plan
(PDF, 741KB) Staff incorporated guidance from the S/CAP Ad Hoc Committee, S/CAP Working Groups, and S/CAP Working Group teams into the 2023-2025 S/CAP Work Plan(PDF, 741KB). The 2023–2025 S/CAP Workplan expands on the S/CAP key actions to guide staff on implementation priorities over the next three years and breaks up the work into two sections. The Climate Action section of the workplan focuses on launching high impact emissions reduction programs, building community confidence in the S/CAP, and laying the foundation for post 2025 work. The Sustainability section focuses on reducing waste, creating a sustainable and holistically managed water system, adapting to climate change, and enhancing the City’s urban canopy. City Council accepted the final version of the Three-Year Work Plan in June 2023.
Co-Benefits and Technical Analysis of the Draft S/CAP
- S/CAP Draft Co-Benefits(PDF, 303KB)
We solicited feedback from the community to help select co-benefits that can be used in the Key Action evaluation and prioritization process. View results from the survey here(PDF, 50KB).
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Technical Analysis
Staff and the City's consultant, AECOM, devoted extensive analytical and research efforts to estimating the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential of proposed strategies, estimated costs, and additional sustainability co-benefits (such as improved local air quality or reduced cost of living). A recorded webinar providing an overview of the analysis can be found on the Sustainability Plan YouTube Playlist.
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AECOM Impact Action Memo(PDF, 377KB)
The City and AECOM collaborated on modeling key action impact results within three categories of GHG reduction actions: Energy, Mobility, and Electric Vehicles. The AECOM Impact Action Memo(PDF, 377KB) presents details on the action impact analysis process, including descriptions of the emissions forecasts, key action analysis results, modeling approach, and detailed action results. It also includes the co-benefits analysis of both the GHG reduction actions and the sustainability actions. The memo concludes with recommendations for next steps and an appendix listing the titles and descriptions for the key actions modeled in this impact analysis.