California Air Resources Board

Local governments’ actions are central to achieving the state’s long-term climate goals. With substantial authority over the built environment, transportation networks, and provision of local services, local governments are valuable partners to achieve California’s climate goals and secure substantial co-benefits for residents.

Climate action can lead to addressing the interconnected issues California faces, including growing housing costs, and widening health and opportunity gaps. These challenges disproportionately impact overburdened communities and communities of color across the state. Tackling them requires collaboration between state, regional, and local entities and community stakeholders to ensure that regional planning, land use policy, and community investments contribute to a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient California.

In 2016, the California Legislature passed Senate Bill 32, requiring CARB to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are reduced to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Assembly Bill 1279 (2022) further established the policy of the state to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045; and ensure that by 2045, statewide anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 85% below 1990 levels. CARB’s 2022 Scoping Plan outlines a roadmap for California to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier, consistent with Assembly Bill 1279 and Executive Order B-55-18, and includes an appendix specific to Local Actions.

A third of California’s GHG reduction potential can be achieved through local action, which CARB is committed to promoting and facilitating. The Local Actions Appendix identifies zero-emission transportation , vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction, and building decarbonization as three priority areas for local action. CARB provides evidence-based analytical tools and resources to assist local governments and their partners in achieving California’s climate goals. The following strategies have been identified to support implementing the priorities identified in the Scoping Plan:

• Develop local Climate Action Plans and strategies consistent with the State’s GHG emission reduction goals;
• Incorporate state-level GHG priorities into processes for approving land use plans and individual projects;
• Implement CEQA mitigation, as needed, to reduce GHG emissions associated with new land use development projects; and
• Leverage opportunities for regional collaboration.

In addition to its GHG benefits, local government action to reduce GHG emissions helps build better places for everyone in ways that begin to address the entrenched inequities experienced by the most overburdened Californians. Policies that make it easier for people to live in places with good access to jobs, services, open space, education, and transportation options that reduce the need to drive, are policies that advance both equity and reduce GHG emissions. Local governments are well positioned to advance a portfolio of integrated strategies that will ensure housing policies address climate goals and vice versa, such as supporting more compact development in infill areas. Fostering transportation-efficient, resource-rich, accessible, and inclusive communities is a key strategy for climate, equity, health, and affordability.