Climate Ready 2030

OUR GOAL

We are in a climate crisis and, like many other cities across the world, Petaluma is taking action. We are proud to be working with our community in acting decisively, joining and inspiring others, and initiating a movement to rehabilitate ecological balance, restore economic stability, and achieve our goal of carbon neutrality in our city.

BLUEPRINT FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY

In October 2023, the City launched its draft of a climate action plan, the Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality. The Blueprint builds on previous programs like fleet electrification and more that have established Petaluma as both a Regional and National climate leader. As a demonstration of this leadership, Petaluma has set a very ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030—this document is the pathway to working towards achieving this goal.

The Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality (Blueprint) is the plan for our community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work towards the bold goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. The Blueprint is the product of Petaluma’s ambitious Climate Emergency Framework and extensive engagement with City staff, the Climate Action Commission, and the community. It includes city-specific actions that include City-funded programs, requirements for new and future development in the city, and partnerships with businesses, community-based organizations, and individuals. It is designed with 22 cornerstone actions across the sectors of buildings, energy, transportation, resource consumption, and ecosystems.

You can read the full Blueprint and our helpful summary at the link HERE or on the top right side of this page.

Obtenga más información y descargue un folleto o haga clic aquí para leer el resumen del plan.

WHAT DOES CARBON NEUTRAL MEAN?

Carbon neutrality refers to balancing greenhouse gas emissions and climate pollution. This can be achieved by reducing and balancing carbon emissions through carbon offsets – programs that work to sequester/remove carbon from the atmosphere to make up for emissions elsewhere.

Thank you for being a part of this important initiative to enhance our community. Together, we can make a difference!

HELP CHOOSE NEW TRASH & RECYCLING BINS

The City of Petaluma has been awarded a CalRecycle grant to improve recycling in three main areas in Petaluma: transit locations, our parks, and our beloved downtown area. Staff have partnered with local organizations to identify some bin options that we feel will maintain the historic feel of the downtown while simultaneously improving access to recycling bins.

Please join us in selecting the perfect trash and recycling bins for our Sustainable Streetscape Program. Your valued input will guide our decision in choosing the bins that best suit the downtown area - making our public spaces cleaner and more sustainable.

CLICK HERE to take our quick community survey.

CLIMATE EMERGENCY FRAMEWORK

The Climate Emergency Framework is the result of collaboration of the Petaluma Climate Action Commission with input from city staff and volunteers in the community. Its purpose is to outline principles to guide the City’s ongoing response to and discussion about the climate crisis and to guide and inform subsequent policies and implementation strategies. These principles establish Petaluma’s shared vision of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable community. By setting the shared intention of this framework and working from the framework in subsequent planning efforts to create policy and implementation, the City will actively work to avoid catastrophic climate change and adapt to its expected impacts. The Framework consists of the following four sections:

Equity and Climate Justice discusses the ethical imperative to solve the climate crisis simultaneously with the crisis of inequity. This involves divesting from systems that harm public health, the economy, and the environment and invest in community-based solutions that create community stability, greater public health, and economic well-being for all community members.

Mitigation and Sequestration involves identifying the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Petaluma and taking action to reduce them, as well as how Petaluma can remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Adaptation and Social Resilience is about preparing our community for climate change impacts and develop the means to withstand the impacts that cannot be avoided.

Community Engagement discusses the necessity of a robust community conversation to address the climate crisis in order to work together to set and meet climate action targets and to strengthen the community in the process.

The City Council adopted the Climate Emergency Framework at its January 11, 2021 special meeting, directing staff to incorporate the Framework’s goals into future planning, policy, and action to help Petaluma be carbon neutral by 2030. We strongly encourage you to read the Framework, learn about what the City has done and is doing to combat climate change, and what you can do personally to stop climate pollution and help our City be healthier and more equitable.

We encourage you to sign up for our City Newsletter updates, which will regularly feature Climate Actions, as well as for information about Climate Action Commission meetings.

OUR GOAL

BLUEPRINT FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY

WHAT DOES CARBON NEUTRAL MEAN?

HELP CHOOSE NEW TRASH & RECYCLING BINS

Read Petaluma's Blueprint for Carbon Neutrality

SIGN UP FOR CLIMATE READY EMAILS

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Reduce Carbon at Home

Create a Cleaner Commute

Conserve Water

Get Involved

WHAT THE CITY IS DOING

Solar Installation at City Facilities

Biomass to Biogas (B2B)

General Plan Update

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Retrofits

Greening the Fleet

Active Transportation

COMPLETED PROJECTS

LED Streetlight Conversions

Switching to 100% Renewable Energy

New Construction All-Electric Reach Code

General Plan Amendment on New Gas Stations

CLIMATE EMERGENCY FRAMEWORK

Recent News

Community Resources