Skip to main content Skip to site navigation

Bay Area Climate Action Examples

Overview

Bay Area Climate Action Examples

See what cities and counties in the San Francisco Bay Area are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Have a best practice you would like to share? Bay Area local governments are invited to send in their climate actions. Let us know what, how, and why your climate action worked!

See what cities and counties in the San Francisco Bay Area are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Post

Getting to Zero Waste: Banning Plastic Bags

Learn how Bay Area cities are banning the use of plastic bags.

Post

In Focus: Air Pollution, Climate Change and the Bay Area 2010 Clean Air Plan

Written and posted by BAAQMD, January 2011.

Air quality in the Bay Area has improved significantly in recent years due to tight regulation of emissions from all sources, including industrial facilities and motor vehicles. Smoggy days have declined substantially over the past 40 years. Despite this progress, the Bay Area continues to exceed state and/or national standards for ozone (smog) and particulate matter (PM) on a limited number of days each year.

Post

Napa County – Working with Winemakers to Achieve Sustainability

Estimated to contribute $11 billion to the local economy, the Napa Valley wine industry is both the economic engine of Napa County and one of the County government’s chief allies in climate protection.

Post

City of Benicia – Developing and Implementing a Tree Program

Benicia updated its tree ordinance and tree program to reflect modern tree management practices and the City’s climate protection goals.

Case Story

The Oakland Green Jobs Corps

Local efforts to reduce energy dependence and slow the threat of global warming have the potential to create significant business opportunities. But as the emerging “green economy” grows in Oakland and throughout the East Bay, where can business leaders turn for skilled green collar labor? Enter the Oakland Green Jobs Corps, a program to meet the needs of local green businesses and provide green job training and employment opportunities for low-income residents.

Resource

Sonoma County’s Energy Independence Program

A best practice case study developed by Pat Stoner, Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Coordinator.

Case Story

LED Streetlights in Palo Alto

After completing a DOE sponsored demonstration project, the City of Palo Alto has decided to move forward with the installation of energy-efficient LED streetlights throughout the community.

Case Story City of El Cerrito

Innovative Financing: El Cerrito Energy and Water Efficiency Program

The City of El Cerrito’s Energy and Water Efficiency Program is a revolving loan fund that is helping the City improve the cost and resource efficiency of City operations.

Post

Alameda County – Building Support for an Internal Climate Action Plan

Alameda County used an inclusive process to develop their 10-year Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations which touches on every aspect of County operations from fleets and buildings to capital planning and how services are delivered.

Case Story

Redwood City Green@Home

Green@Home is a program aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of households by sending trained community-based volunteers to visit neighbors in their homes, install several energy-saving devices, and perform a home energy assessment.

Post
SF Clean Cities Coalition workshop held on 8/19/09

Commercial Fleet Emissions: San Francisco’s Approach

SF Environment along with Sustainable Earth Initiatives have created a comprehensive Clean Fleets guide and fuel tracking tool to help commercial fleet operators reduce their carbon footprint.

Bay Area Transportation GHGs

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from the transportation sector accounts for 40 to 60% of the global warming pollution in most Bay Area Counties. These emissions can be some of the toughest to reduce since there are hundreds of thousands of individual vehicles and they operate outside of the direct control of local governments.

Post

Climate Bay Area: Advancing the Region’s Climate Effort

Learn how Climate Bay Area, a multi-sector partnership, is advancing climate actions in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Resource

Daly City Green Building Ordinance

Daly City’s green building ordinance requires new single and multi-family residential buildings to be constructed in an effort to reduce construction waste, improve energy efficiency, conserve water, and promote building practices and materials that protect the environment and the inhabitants.

General

Santa Clara County Climate Change and Sustainability Program

Established in 2008, the Santa Clara County Climate Change and Sustainability Program has developed a Climate Action Plan for Operations and Facilities, and Green Building Policy for County Government Buildings. Both documents are available on the Office of Sustainability’s web page.

Post

City of Palo Alto – Involving the Public in Climate Change Action

Palo Alto is using an innovative and interactive online reporting tool to share the City’s progress in achieving its sustainability goals.

Case Story

FOCUS on TOD

FOCUS channels Bay Area development in the right direction.

Case Story

County of San Mateo- Efficient Transportation Program to Address Climate Change

San Mateo County’s Commute Alternatives Program offers county employees transit pass, vanpool, carpool, bike, and walk to work subsidies, along with a Guaranteed Ride Home Program, carpool-only parking facilities, and bike lockers.

Log in