The original CAP’s Climate Resiliency Strategy has evolved into Resilient Infrastructure and Ecosystems to encompass new actions related to both natural and built environments and to reflect the City’s work to date on resiliency with the adoption of the Climate Resilient SD plan in 2021. Climate resiliency and the actions identified this strategy better prepare San Diego to prepare for the impacts of climate change and minimize its negative effects. Climate resilient systems are proposed and mentioned throughout this document, but the actions within this strategy refer specifically to those with associated GHG emission reductions. Juxtaposed with the CAP, which is focused on reducing emissions, the City’s Climate Resilient SD plan was intended to prepare for and adopt to the four primary climate change hazards that pose the greatest risk to the City: sea level rise, flooding and drought, extreme heat and wildfires.
In the 2015 CAP, the Resiliency Strategy included measures for climate resilience in developing a regional Urban Tree Canopy Assessment in collaboration with other regional jurisdictions and SANDAG, developing a Parks Master Plan prioritizing underserved communities, issuing an Urban Forest Management Plan and planning for the long-term maintenance of additional trees with sufficient staff resources. The City has implemented each of these measures and seeks to expand the list of actions based on community input to build off of this prior work and enhance achievement of this strategy in Communities of Concern.
The City has developed several programs to further the expansion of the City’s tree canopy and access for residents to trees for planting in neighborhoods and City public spaces. For example, the City’s Parks and Recreation Department in partnership with the Balboa Park Conservancy, CAL FIRE, Urban Corps San Diego and Tree San Diego has planted more than 600 trees in San Diego’s crown jewel, Balboa Park. The City also launched an annual Arbor Day event where members of the community plant trees and learn about their importance in our communities. Trees for Treasure, in partnership with Friends of Balboa Park, takes downed timber and dead trees and uses the wood to create unique products for sale. Profits are then used to plant new trees in Balboa Park. The City’s Transportation Department launched Free Tree SD, a program where residents can request a new street tree with the commitment of watering it for three years during the establishment period. San Diegans can access the Urban Tree Canopy Assessment with support from SanGIS to view the tree canopy across the city and in their community. Throughout the engagement process for the draft 2015 CAP, every Community of Concern expressed a strong desire for more trees and green spaces. Trees and green spaces improve air quality, create a buffer between freeways and homes, create cooler sidewalks improving walkability and bikeability, beautify neighborhoods, and provide public areas to congregate and develop relationships that improve neighborhoods holistically.
A semiarid climate with cycles of multi-year droughts, San Diego’s historical average rainfall amounts do not provide adequate local water supplies. Water demands currently require that most of the City’s water be imported from outside of the region. For more than 100 years, the City has continually and proactively invested in its water supply system to maintain a reliable water supply for residents and businesses. The Public Utilities Department (PUD) is working to improve the energy efficiency of their operations and upgrading many of facilities. In 2019, PUD consumed about 56% of its energy from onsite renewable generation directly and indirectly, from both privatized and Cityowned facilities. PUD is working on upgrading existing renewable energy generation facilities, as well as adding new facilities.
The Climate Resilient SD plan includes adaptation strategies and associated core benefits which include GHG reductions. These strategies include coordination with local transit agencies, collaboration with experts on climate science to inform policy decisions and developing a cultural plan to connect the arts to sustainability and resiliency, among others. As both Climate Resilient SD and the CAP move forward into implementation, their aligned strategies will serve to both mitigate and adapt to climate change and provide a more sustainable future for San Diegans.
