Urban tree canopy — the layer of leaves, branches, and stems that cover the ground when viewed from above — is one of the most effective tools a city has for cooling neighborhoods, improving air quality, and absorbing carbon. This indicator tracks the percentage of San Diego's land area covered by tree canopy.
The City has set targets of 28% canopy cover by 2030, which would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 83,000 MT CO2e per year, and 35% by 2035, delivering a reduction of around 102,000 MT CO2e per year.
Because measuring tree canopy requires detailed aerial analysis, this indicator is updated periodically rather than annually; the most recent data was collected in 2021. The number of new street trees planted each year is tracked separately as a more frequent measure of progress.