County of San Diego
2022 Climate Action Progress
Annual Report
The County reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through sustainability actions implemented across several County departments. In 2022, the County reduced 228,213 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e)1 of GHG emissions through the implementation of measures within the built environment & transportation, energy, solid waste, water & wastewater, and agriculture & conservation emissions sectors. Find status updates on all County GHG reduction measures and on our 2022 Report on Climate Action Progress Appendix.
In addition to these GHG emission reductions, the County continued to make progress on other sustainabilityrelated efforts such as implementation of the Electric Vehicle Roadmap and updates to the Climate Action Plan (CAP). The County is currently working on developing the Regional Decarbonization Framework that will plan for a zero carbon future for San Diego. To learn more about these efforts and other ways the County is working to ensure a sustainable and just future for our community, find all available Annual Monitoring Reports here.
1 MTCO2e is the standard unit of measurement for GHG monitoring and evaluation.
228,213 MTCO2e Reduction
2022 County GHG reductions were equivalent to reducing the emissions from 25,678,419 gallons of gasoline!2
The County has continued to make climate action progress and provide co-benefits such as clean air and water, green jobs, and improved public health through implementation of programs and policies within five emissions sectors:
Built Environment & Transportation
Energy
Solid Waste
Water & Wastewater
Agriculture & Conservation
As of 2022, the County achieved 25% of the 2030 reduction target of 897,145 MTCO2e.
County of San Diego
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions
Climate Action Highlights from 2022
10%
reduction in County fleet emissions below 2014 levels
Distributed an equivalent of
1,232
rain barrels distributed through the County Watershed Protection Program's discounted rain barrel program
3,913
trees planted by the Department of Parks and Recreation
Permitted residential solar power equivalent to
12,531
homes, over 90% through the County's Online Permits platform
1,022
acres of open space conserved through the Multiple Species Conservation Program
Electric Vehicle Roadmap
In October 2019, the County Board of Supervisors adopted the Electric Vehicle (EV) Roadmap and took significant steps to increase electric vehicle ownership and use, and install charging stations in the county’s unincorporated area and at County facilities.
The EV Roadmap includes six goals that increase and accelerate electrification of our transportation network in order to reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality in the unincorporated area. Implementation of the EV Roadmap supports the County’s 2018 CAP efforts to meet GHG reduction targets and sets the County on a path to meet anticipated future demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Action + Progress
Since Board adoption, several initiatives to advance EV Roadmap goals have been completed or progressed. Implementation efforts are regularly updated on the EV Roadmap website, and key highlights from 2022 have included:
- Installed over 200 EV charging stations at County facilities for fleet vehicles
- Increased the number of in-use EVs in the County’s fleet to 92 vehicles
- Installed over 50 publicly accessible EV chargers at County facilities
- Implemented a Renewable Energy Fee Waiver Pilot Program and are currently evaluating program effectiveness to reduce costs of installing EV charging stations in private development
- Completed a Community Transportation Needs Assessment in La Presa and Spring Valley
- Increased teleworking by County employees and reduced more than 10,000 MTCO2e from County employee commutes with teleworking
- Developed a Regional EV Gap Analysis as part of the Accelerate to Zero Emissions Regional Collaboration
Did you know?
State and federal rebates and incentives can save you as much as $13,000 in
up-front costs and tax benefits for purchasing an EV.
Ongoing Electric Vehicle Efforts
The County has multiple ongoing efforts to increase electric vehicle use and access to EV charging infrastructure. These efforts range from increasing the number of EVs used in County operations to regional collaboration to ensure all San Diego county residents have access to electric vehicles in the future. Some ongoing efforts include:
> ELECTRIC VEHICLES
MEETING EVERYONE’S NEEDS
Many County departments require larger vehicles to carry heavy or large amounts of equipment, or larger engines to power auxiliary equipment in areas where EV chargers may not be nearby.
The County received it is first delivery of Ford F-150 Lightnings – all electric pick-up trucks. Since delivery, these vehicles have been successfully used and tested to meet a range of departmental needs, and have increased the viability of such vehicles for use across County departments.
Departments like Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) have used the new trucks to carry inspection equipment throughout the county including in rural areas, traveling over 10,000 miles in these EVs in just six months.
> ALTERNATIVE FUEL CORRIDOR
CHARGING STATIONS
Planning & Development Services submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation to support expansion of Alternative Fuel Corridor (AFC) designations in the county.
As a result of the letter, new State Routes and Interstates in the unincorporated area, such as I-8 and SR 94, were given AFC designations for EVs, connecting east-west corridors and rural areas to future EV infrastructure investment.
With these designations, the State will fund and support development of EV charging stations along these routes for a minimum of 56 new fast charging ports in the unincorporated area.
> EMPLOYEE COMMUTES
GO ELECTRIC
In May 2022, all County employees received a survey to understand how they travel to work, their barriers to EV ownership, and the incentives that would help them transition to alternative commute modes.
Results showed that, while just under 5 percent of County employees currently drive an EV, nearly 80 percent of employees are interested in purchasing an EV in the next five years.
> COUNTY LEADERSHIP
REGIONAL
COLLABORATION
The County has been recognized as a leader in transitioning vehicles in our region to zero emissions.
In May 2022, the National Association of Counties recognized the County’s EV Consumer Guide website with a County Resiliency Achievement Award for optimizing new technologies and innovations to advance energy goals and environmental stewardship.
Additionally, as founding member of the Accelerate to Zero Collaboration, the County helped publish the Regional EV Gap Analysis, which received awards for innovation, environmental planning, and resiliency from American Planning Association (APA) California, APA San Diego Chapter, and the National Association of Counties.
Climate Action Plan Update
In 2022, the County continued efforts to establish a bold vision for responding to climate change. This effort will result in a qualified plan that mitigates beyond state GHG reduction targets to net zero emissions and below by 2035-2045 in the unincorporated area of the county and at County facilities. Through new policies and programs, the CAP Update will help us reduce climate change impacts in our community.
Framework for the Future
The CAP Update is using updated data and modeling to show where the County can reduce emissions to net zero with an equity focus. This work will be shaped by robust community engagement, centering environmental justice and equity in order to recognize and address climate change impacts experienced by our most vulnerable unincorporated communities.
The CAP reduces emissions for the 772,239 acres and over 500,000 residents where the County has land use jurisdiction (in green above) and the approximately 430 County facilities located across 19 jurisdictions.
The County is committed to creating a Climate Action Plan that serves the community and protects the public’s health and safety, sustains the environment, and improves the quality of life for our residents.
Get Involved with the CAP Update!
In 2022, staff sought input and stakeholder feedback through a total of eight public workshops that included a total of 146 participants, 21 in-person events that reached over 6,500 people, and regular engagement on online platforms (e.g., website updates, e-newsletters) and social media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and NextDoor). Through these efforts, staff received thousands of comments and are working to incorporate this feedback into the CAP Update.
Visit our project website for a project timeline, and follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to learn more and get involved in the process!
Sustainability Initiatives at the County of
San Diego
In 2022, the County continued to make bold action towards addressing the climate emergency through a variety of sustainable, equitable policy directives.
Collaborating to Reach Zero Carbon
- RDF is the County’s science-based, holistic approach to guide the region’s decarbonization efforts
- The effort will identify local policy opportunities to support decarbonization in transportation, electricity, buildings, and land use
Principles for Sustainable Development
- Identifies principles of sustainable development that could inform future land use decisions
- Will look to address the issues of vehicle miles traveled, housing and climate, economic development, promotion of agriculture and tourism, and others
Increasing use of native plants in landscaping
- Offers training, resources, and incentives to increase the use of native plants in landscaped areas
- Supports regional biodiversity and expands natural wildlife habitat across the region
Sustainability in our Operations
- Implements and advances departmental sustainability practices through actions, programs, and policies to contribute to County CAP goals and RDF pathways
- Creates a comprehensive strategy to achieve sustainability in internal and external operations
Dedicated Climate Equity Resources
- A regional voice for the community and tribes on sustainability and environmental justice issues
- Leading a regional effort to reduce community exposures to health
- hazards while addressing equity and environmental and climate justice in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental burdens
Stay Connected
For questions and media inquiries, contact us here.
View previously published annual monitoring reports here.
Climate Action Links