Climate Action and Sustainability

Developing the LB CAP

The LB CAP builds on Long Beach’s sustainability accomplishments:

Creating the CAP’s Vision and Mission 

The vision of the Long Beach CAP is to create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable city by addressing climate change in a way that also addresses existing environmental health disparities while improving health and quality of life and enhancing economic vitality throughout Long

LB CAP’s Mission:

• Create an inclusive, community-centered planning process to broadly engage the Long Beach community, paying particular attention to those most affected by climate change, including low-income communities and people of color, youth, and older adults. 
• Communicate climate change impacts in Long Beach by meeting residents and community members where they already gather, such as community events, cultural festivals, senior centers, schools, and trusted community organizations.
• Build capacity to co-define solutions and priorities to inform the CAAP.
• Collaborate with internal (City departments) and external (community members, business community, neighborhood associations, the scientific community) stakeholders.
• Commit to ensuring that the Long Beach community and its physical assets are better protected from the impacts of climate change.

Development Process

From April 2017 to May 2018, the LB CAP development process was focused on technical analyses required as a basis of data and facts for developing a climate action plan, including a review of the latest climate science for Long Beach, a climate hazards analysis, vulnerability assessments, vulnerabilities mapping, greenhouse gas emissions inventories and forecasts, and GHG reductions target setting. 

Between summer 2018 and summer 2019, a variety of community outreach events and activities focused on validating the data and risk assessments, and working in partnership with the community to understand, prioritize and plan mitigation measures and adaptation strategies towards LB CAP goals and reduction targets that include: new regulations, prioritized infrastructure improvements, strategies for growing a green economy, energy efficiency and alternative transportation incentive programs, urban greening efforts, community partnerships and more.

Developing and adopting the LB CAP is just the beginning of an ongoing, collaborative process to make Long Beach a safer, healthier and more sustainable place to live, work and play. Residents, business owners, students, and other community stakeholders are encouraged to get involved by providing input, spreading the word, and sharing ideas, priorities, and solutions to help establish and achieve the City's climate goals.

The Implementation Process

Stakeholder Engagement 

Stakeholder engagement was key to the process and had two main components – first, working with a series of stakeholder working groups, and second, extensive public outreach. The City is grateful to all those who provided input. Community input is reflected in the plan’s vision and goals, the policies and strategies that have been included and prioritized, and the way in which various actions are anticipated to be implemented.