Climate Action Plan

The City Council adopted Saratoga's first Climate Action Plan (CAP) on December 2, 2020. A CAP is a roadmap with specific strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The State of California encourages all local governments to reduce their community’s emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Saratoga’s CAP will help focus on activities that reduce the greatest amount of emissions in the most cost-effective way.

Process

The CAP was developed with help of feedback from the community. The City held small group meetings, community meetings, and received public comments both in writing and at meetings. If you were unable to attend a meeting, you can still watch a recording of the presentation or view the presentation slides.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are greenhouse gases?

They are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat. Human activities are responsible for most of the increase in greenhouse gases. In the United States, the greatest source of emissions from humans is burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.

What has Saratoga done so far?

Before developing a CAP, the City participated in sustainability programs and installed infrastructure to help reduce emissions. Saratoga receives carbon-free, renewable energy through Silicon Valley Clean Energy, and the City reduced reliance on household natural gas appliances and heating systems through the new Green Building Ordinance.

Community members have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by:

  • purchasing zero emission vehicles,
  • replacing appliances and upgrading homes and commercial buildings to be more energy efficient, and
  • installing renewable energy systems, such as solar.

What happens after adopting a CAP?

The CAP outlines estimated greenhouse gas emission reductions based on projections in the draft 2040 General Plan for housing, job, and commercial development. The City will continue to take steps to implement the CAP and meet the 2030 target, along with exploring other programs and technology to achieve longer-term emission reductions. Saratoga’s CAP will be updated over the years to reflect new State of California targets and programs, as well as new technologies as they become available.