California Air Resources Board

Principal Investigator/Author: Catherine Brinkley

Contractor: University of California, Davis

Sub-contractors: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Michael Boswell

Contract Number: 21STC021

Project Status: Active

Relevant CARB Programs: Local Actions for Climate Change, Sustainable Communities, Sustainable Communities & Climate Protection Program, Building Decarbonization, Advanced Clean Cars2022 Scoping Plan Update

Topic Areas: Sustainable Communities,Research & Sustainable Communities, Sustainable Community Strategies (SCS), Climate Change, Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Reduction & Climate Goals, California Climate Investments, Building Decarbonization, Land Use & Transportation Research,California Climate Investments

Research Summary:

This project will inform local governments, community members, and State agencies about the best ways to address climate action planning challenges and barriers to action at the local level to help achieve the State’s GHG reduction goals. This project’s objectives are to 1) identify barriers that local governments face in implementing climate action policies and ways to overcome them through a literature review; 2) identify ways for CARB, through the California Climate Investments and other programs to support local governments and community-based organizations in tackling climate actions; and 3) conduct local government training  for implementors of priority climate strategies, focusing on education about State climate goals, resources, and funding opportunities using existing partnerships and networks. The project will also update general plan and Climate Action Plan (CAP) databases, review municipal ordinances and conduct interviews related to evaluation of general plan and CAP implementation.

Keywords: climate action, climate change, climate investments, sustainable communities, local government, Climate Action Plan, General Plan, vehicle miles traveled, zero-emission vehicles, building decarbonization