Image: City of San DiegoTo meet the magnitude of the climate crisis, we set an ambitious goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035. San Diego can and must lead with bold and inclusive steps.
This Climate Action Plan (CAP) is the City’s policy commitment to set clear goals to reduce GHG emissions and details the strategies and actions we will collectively take to make San Diego a more sustainable, healthy and thriving city.
In 2023, citywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were estimated at 8.52 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMT CO₂e). The chart to the right shows how 2023 emissions compare to the 2019 Climate Action Plan baseline, annual estimates from 2020–2022, projected future emissions if no City actions were taken (Business-As-Usual), and the emissions reduction targets included in the Climate Action Plan.
Citywide emissions in 2023 were down 19% from 2019 levels, the starting point for measuring future changes in the Climate Action Plan. However, 2023 emissions were up 2% from the previous year.
The vast majority (96%) of 2023 emissions are the result of fuels used in vehicles that move people and goods around the city and energy used to power homes and buildings. For more details on where the City's emissions come from and our progress toward reducing those emissions, see our breakdown pages [coming soon].
The City has identified five equity-focused strategies to achieve a goal of net zero emissions by 2035 through reducing and avoiding GHG emissions.
A sixth strategy, Emerging Climate Action, will be added in the future. This strategy will assemble further action, new policies, technological innovation, partnerships and research. This will require monitoring and reporting during implementation to build out and quantify.