San Diego is falling short in implementing the objectives and timetables in its Climate Action Plan’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, according to a watchdog group.

“Crunch Time For Climate,” is the latest report by Climate Action Campaign, a nonprofit with a mission to stop the climate crisis through effective policy action. And the conclusion drawn by CAC in Crunch Time is that the City must double down on shifting transportation options away from gas-powered vehicles, in order to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the next 12 years.

“The City’s most recent, and only, publicly available data on mode share targets shows 2021 mode share targets are off track from reaching the City’s 2030 binding goals,” states CAC’s report. “The 2021 data shows commuter transit at 8%, pedestrian commuter mode share at 3%, and bicycle commuter mode share at 2%.

“These percentages miss all 2015 Climate Action Plan targets of 12%, 4%, and 6%, respectively. These numbers will be even further behind under the binding 2022 CAP mode share targets for 2030 and the bold 2035 targets, which include shifting 50% mode of all (car) transportation trips and not just commuter trips.”

Noting San Diego is preparing to draft its first Mobility Master Plan, CAC intends for its latest climate report to “act as a guide. With only seven years left to double mode shift results, the MMP needs to be detailed, with specific timelines and benchmarks. Our report outlines how we can increase mode shift, bring health and economic benefits to our communities, increase mobility options, and unlock funding opportunities from the state and federal governments. The MMP is the key to our hope for a better tomorrow.”

Nicole Capretz, an environmental attorney and executive director of CAC, pointed out that when the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to slash carbon emissions in half, that became the first “legally binding” Climate Action Plan committing to 100% clean energy in a major U.S. city. Now, Capretz added, the goal is to hold the City’s feet to the fire to ensure it keeps its CAP pledge.

Asked how the City’s CAP aids coastal communities like Ocean Beach and Point Loma, Capretz replied: “This plan is about how we reduce carbon emissions, which we’re already seeing in coastal communities adapting to extreme heat or sea-level rise. The more people we get out of their cars to start biking and walking means more people not burning gas in their cars, resulting in cleaner air.”

Capretz noted real progress is being made in cutting GHG emissions via the creation of community choice electricity programs such as San Diego Community Power. SDCP is a local renewable electricity provider bringing cleaner energy at competitive rates to over 700,000 customers in Chula Vista, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, and San Diego.

“Cleaner air contributes to better public health,” Capretz said adding, “Community power that comes to homes is much closer to 100% renewable energy than most other sources.”

Capretz said that “once the City develops its MMP, there will be a lot more bike riding in coastal communities helping out with people’s fitness, their commutes and increasing our (climate) security.”

But getting people to shift away from fossil fuels and toward greener, cleaner energy won’t be easy, admitted Capretz. “The bottom line is, reaching the 100% electrical goal for transportation requires a pretty big infrastructure change necessitating redesigning our streets and roads making them more bikeable and walkable” she concluded.

What advice is CAC offering the City to help guide it in achieving its climate and GHG emission-reduction objectives? “We think climate needs to be a higher political and fiscal priority,” answered Capretz. “That would help change the outcomes, help us accelerate the reduction of carbon pollution in San Diego.”

Pointing out San Diego is now “legally required to slash our carbon footprint,” Capretz added, “We need to be needling the City to stay on track, not just for the greater good now, but looking forward to the next generation.”

Asked Capretz, “Are we doing everything possible to transition our economy toward clean energy and away from fossil fuels? That’s hard. But all we’re asking is for the City to comply with its own (climate) plans and goals. We’re just telling the City, ‘You made commitments – now keep them.’”

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Read the Crunch Time For Climate report at climateactioncampaign.org.