Climate Action Plan

July 21, 2021 Public Hearings" Draft CAP and Vision Statement

cover Larkspur CAP 2030 June 2021 Clean CopyOn July 21, 2021 the City will conduct public hearings to craft a vision statement as well as consider adopting its Climate Action Plan (CAP). The current draft of the plan incorporates amendments and edits approved by the City Council at its meeting of June 16, 2021.

On July 21, 2010, the City of Larkspur adopted a Climate Action Plan with a GHG emissions reduction target of 15% below 2005 levels by 2020. In coordination with the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership (MCEP) The City has been conducting regular GHG emissions inventories over the last several years and has determined that the City has achieved those reductions.

The City is now endeavoring to adopt an updated Climate Action Plan for the next 10 years to address GHG target reductions of no less than 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Staff has been collaborating with MCEP on this project and has prepared a Draft Climate Action Plan to meet this ambitious goal.  The Draft Plan is modeled upon best practices and the most up-to-date measures and policies that have been recently adopted, or are otherwise under consideration, by other agencies within MCEP.

Climate Action Plan Workshop - April 29, 2021

Climate Action Plan Draft

Public Comment

To submit public comment on draft materials send an email to ntoft@cityoflarkspur.org. You can view all comments on the Draft Climate Action Plan 2040 here.

Climate Change Background

A balance of naturally occurring gases dispersed in the atmosphere determines the Earth’s climate by trapping infrared radiation (heat), a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. Significant evidence suggests that human activities are increasing the concentration of these gases (known as “greenhouse gases” or GHG) in the atmosphere, causing a rise in global average surface temperature and consequent global climate change. The greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halocarbons, ozone, and water vapor. According to EPA’s April 2009, “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” the majority of GHG emissions comes from fossil fuel combustion, which in turn is used for electricity, transportation, industry, and heating, etc.

 Collectively, these gases intensify the natural greenhouse effect, causing global average surface temperatures to rise, which affects local and global climate patterns. These changes in climate are forecasted to manifest themselves in a number of ways that might impact Larkspur as well as other changes to local and regional weather patterns and species migration.

Purpose of the Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories

The City of Larkspur understands that climate change has the potential to significantly affect Larkspur’s residents and businesses, as well as other communities around the world. The City also recognizes that local governments play a strong role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the potential impacts of climate change. The purpose of the City's Climate Action Plan is to compile existing and potential strategies (i.e., actions, projects, and programs) that the City’s government operations and the community can take to address climate change.

Through actions outlined in the Climate Action Plan, such as increasing energy efficiency of buildings, encouraging less dependence on the automobile, and using clean, renewable energy sources, the community can experience lower energy bills, improved air quality, reduced emissions, and an enhanced quality of life. The City’s preparation of a 2005 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and this Climate Action Plan was the beginning of an ongoing planning process that includes assessing, planning, mitigating, and adapting to climate change. GHG Emissions Inventories have been prepared on a regular basis, with the latest completed for 2018 can be viewed here. This information, as well as information for the surrounding Marin County jurisdictions, can also be viewed graphically using the Marin Climate and Energy Partnership's online tracker.