City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach has adopted its first-ever Long Beach Climate Action Plan (LB CAP) that provides a framework for creating a more sustainable, resilient and equitable city. Unanimously approved by the Long Beach City Council, LB CAP, also known as the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, will address climate change in a way that remedies existing environmental health disparities while also improving health, quality of life and enhancing economic vitality throughout Long Beach for decades to come.
“The City’s Climate Action Plan demonstrates our steadfast commitment to addressing climate change,” said Mayor Garcia. “This is a huge step forward, and we must continue working to create a safer, healthier and more sustainable Long Beach for everyone.”
LB CAP provides a comprehensive framework for creating or updating policies, programs, practices and incentives for Long Beach residents and businesses to reduce the city's greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint and help ensure the community is better protected from the impacts of climate change. One of the primary objectives of LB CAP is for the city to reach complete carbon neutrality by 2045, with a target of reducing GHG emissions to 40% by 2030. To help reach this goal, LB CAP outlines detailed actions across several sectors to combat issues related to extreme heat, air quality, drought, sea level rising and flooding, building and energy, transportation and waste.
Combating the consequences of climate change and supporting local sustainably efforts is a top priority for the City. This commitment is reflected in the City’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, which was unveiled earlier this month, and includes the creation of a new Office of Climate Action with four new positions in addition to a Planner position dedicated to help implement LB CAP. This new staffing will work in complementary fashion with the City’s existing Office of Sustainability.
The proposed budget also includes $7 million in support of projects that can demonstrate a GHG emissions reduction, with more than 80% of that funding invested in disadvantaged and/or low-income communities. As a qualified climate action plan pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regulations, LB CAP may be used to streamline the GHG analysis for future plans and projects. LB CAP Consistency Review Checklist will establish screening criteria for future discretionary projects, including those proposed by private developers as well as City-implemented municipal projects, to ensure consistency with LB CAP’s guidelines. Use of these streamlining tools will help the City meet related goals of creating adequate housing supply in a compact and sustainable manner.
“This plan is guided by the most up-to-date science and local climate projections to protect the community and its residents from future climate impacts for generations to come,” said Christopher Koontz, Acting Director of the Development Services Department. “LB CAP also enables the city to continue to be at the forefront of sustainable planning and meet the needs of the present without compromising the future.”
LB CAP also helps the City comply with various local, regional, state and federal regulations to significantly reduce emissions. California Senate Bill 379 requires cities and counties to include climate adaptation and resiliency strategies in their general plans to ensure safety and protection of their communities in the future. The role of cities is important in regard to climate action as cities account for more than 70% of GHG emissions globally.
LB CAP was informed by an extensive five-year public engagement process that included reaching more than 10,260 residents at nearly 70 community and public events. As a part of this outreach, City staff organized stakeholder working groups consisting of field experts, business leaders and local community organizations, and hosted numerous presentations and activities in collaboration with City Council offices, other City Departments and community partners.
The community is reminded that small changes in daily activities can have a big impact on combating climate change. Some ways residents and businesses can help do their part, as presented in LB CAP, are listed below:
Long Beach has already taken a significant green and sustainable approach to improving the health of residents, businesses, neighborhoods and the natural environment. The City was one of the first municipalities to create a Port Clean Air Action Plan, a Sustainable City Commission, a Sustainable City Action Plan and a commitment to the Compact of Mayors. As a result, the City has been in the process of incorporating sustainability in all its major policies to help build resilience and ensure Long Beach thrives.
The City has also focused on creating sustainable land use and transportation systems. The City’s General Plan Mobility Element focuses on providing active transportation options throughout Long Beach neighborhoods, and the General Plan Land Use Element supports this progress by promoting land use patterns that concentrate density around transit and promote active transportation through a mix of land uses and careful urban design.
For more information about the Long Beach Climate Action Plan, visit longbeach.gov/lbcap.
About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health and Human Services; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Development Services; Public Works and more. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, 12 libraries, five golf courses, 169 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths and a Bike Share program.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Watch us on LBTV. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Long Beach Development Services
Serving residents, businesses and the community at large, the award-winning Long Beach Development Services Department sets a standard for high-quality, innovative urban planning and livability efforts that create more progressive and sustainable communities within the diverse City of Long Beach, CA. Through a variety of development, code enforcement, housing and neighborhood services and building activities, the Department builds a better future for the city while also honoring its unique past. For more information, visit longbeach.gov/lbds. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.