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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion Regarding Culver City Becoming a Climate Emergency City and a C40 Member; and (2) if Desired, Give Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: November 11, 2024
Contact Person/Dept.: Christopher Evans/Public Works Department/Engineering Division
Phone Number: (310) 253-5621
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: E-Mail: Meetings and Agendas - City Council (11/07/2024)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (09/25/2024)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) discuss the possibility of Culver City becoming a Climate Emergency City and a C40 member and (2) if desired, give direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
On July 8, 2024, the City Council requested that discussion regarding becoming a Climate Emergency City and a C40 member be placed on the agenda.
In reviewing both the C40 organization and information regarding the cities becoming Climate Emergency Cities, staff found that both are related to cities taking the lead to implement measures to reduce the effects of climate change.
General Plan Update
For discussion purposes, staff is providing the following information regarding those elements contained in the recently adopted General Plan Update (GPU) that focus on the City’s future climate action efforts. The City has chosen to address climate change, environmental justice, and to implement climate-related actions through development of guidelines, identifying programs and projects, and establishing targets in the GPU. The GPU is the umbrella document that allows the City to plan for future development until 2045. The intent of the GPU is to establish the City’s goals for development and the built environment, actions to take to address climate change, and to set ground rules for land use.
The GPU includes detailed objectives to address environmental justice and climate action throughout the document. Specifically, the GPU includes strategies to achieve certain goals and to perform on-going monitoring of the City’s progress, including:
• Element 1 Community Health and Environmental Justice - This Element identifies disadvantaged districts in the City and addresses the unique and compounded health risks in these neighborhoods.
o For example, this section sets the goal of all residents and workers to breathe clean air and not be exposed to hazardous materials.
• Element 9: Greenhouse Gas Reduction -This Element addresses sustainability and the environmental, social equity, and economic impacts from climate change, and forms the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
o For example, this section includes the goal for the City to develop a plan, and achieve several Greenhouse Gas emission reduction targets; including becoming carbon neutral by 2045.
• Element 10: Conservation -This Element addresses the stewardship and conservation of cultural and natural resources.
o For example, this section includes the goal that Ballona Creek continue to mitigate flooding, but its native ecologies are to be restored, and it is to become a scenic multi-purpose open space and recreational corridor.
• Element 11: Safety -This Element evaluates and mitigates the risk of climate change and natural hazards such as seismic and geologic activity, wildfires, and flooding.
o For example, this section includes the goal to support resilient building design by helping residents weatherize homes to keep them cooler/warmer, to become energy efficient, and to improve indoor air quality.
C40 Organization and Membership
C40 is an organization of approximately 96 large cities throughout the world, including Los Angeles. The mayors of C40 cities are committed to the goal of reducing their city’s greenhouse gas emissions to avoid having the earth’s temperature rise more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), along with promoting environmental justice and sustainability.
Staff contacted C40 and were informed that membership is limited to cities with 3 million or more in population and that they cap their membership by region.
Climate Emergency Cities
Staff researched what would be involved in becoming a Climate Emergency City, and below is a summary of that research:
Some cities in the US and worldwide have declared “Climate Emergencies”. There isn’t one set definition for a “Climate Emergency City”. A climate emergency city is a city that has acknowledged the need to take action on the causes and effects of climate change. Climate emergency cities may have plans in place to reduce their carbon emissions and increase their resilience to climate change, or both.
For example, Portland, Oregon's Climate Emergency Workplan for 2022-2025 includes goals to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. In Napa, California, their Climate Emergency Resolution aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from public and private operations by 2030. Some of the strategies Napa is using to achieve this goal include using energy more efficiently, increasing access to zero-emission transportation, and harnessing renewable electricity.
Much like the examples provided above, the City’s GPU adopts similar measures, including achieving net zero greenhouse gases by 2045.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact to discussing this issue however, a fiscal impact may occur as a result of the direction City Council gives to staff.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
(1) Discuss Culver City becoming a “climate emergency city.”
(2) If desired, give direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.