Climate Action and Sustainability

Climate Adaptation vs. Mitigation Actions

Adaptation Actions

Climate adaptation refers to adjusting our behaviors, systems, and infrastructure to reduce the impact climate change has on us. There are three types of adaptation strategies - structural, natural, and community-based.

The adaptation actions identified were created to improve the ability of Long Beach and its residents and businesses to adapt to climate change, and related impacts now and in the future.

A range of factors were considered in the design and selection of the various actions, including:

• The projected timeframe and estimated likelihood of the vulnerability
• The importance and effectiveness of each action in increasing resilience
• Technical feasibility and City implementation capacity
• Public and stakeholder feedback throughout the LB CAP development process

Extreme Heat

Extreme heat conditions are defined as weather that is much hotter than average, and sometimes more humid, for a particular time and place. In Long Beach, extreme heat conditions are considered to be reached when temperatures are 95 degrees and above.

• Action Items & Equity Strategies

  In the coming decades extreme heat is expected to be the greatest climate-related health threat to Long Beach residents, causing an increase in heat-related mortality, cardiovascular and respiratory related mortality, and an increase in hospital admissions and emergency department visits. Extreme heat events disproportionately impact vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, people with respiratory diseases, people with physical disabilities, and those that work outdoors.

  The adaptation actions in this section establish a roadmap for the City to implement new programs and improved existing programs to address extreme heat now and in the future.
  
  
  
  

Air Quality

The consequences of climate change extend beyond rising temperatures, significantly affecting air quality. Higher global temperatures result in increased levels of pollutants and allergens, exacerbating respiratory issues and other health problems. Addressing these impacts is essential for developing effective climate adaptation strategies to protect public health.

• Action Items & Equity Strategies

  Air pollution is a major threat to public health and carries increased risk for vulnerable populations. In a 2006 assessment, the Long Beach Health Department found that 14 percent of residents suffer from asthma which is 2.5 percent higher than Los Angeles and 6 percent higher than the entire U.S. The report found that people of color and low-income communities were disproportionately impacted. All air quality actions taken by the City will prioritize vulnerable communities

  Warming could increase the number of days violating air quality standards in the region by as much as 25-80 percent by end-of-century. Additionally, an increase in wildfires in the broader region could also lead to dangerous air quality levels. The combination of higher temperatures, precipitation change, and increasing CO2 concentrations is expected to increase pollen and some airborne allergens

  The air quality adaptation actions target air pollution reductions from a variety of sources such as buses, landscaping equipment, the Long Beach Airport, and food transportation. Combined with the air pollution reduction co-benefits that are expected to result from the mitigation actions, the CAP has the potential to lead to substantial improvements in air quality and public health.
  

Drought

Sea Level Rise + Flooding

Sea level rise, driven by climate change, occurs as melting glaciers and ice sheets add water to the oceans and as seawater expands due to higher temperatures. This increase in sea level heightens the risk of coastal flooding, especially during high tides and storms, posing significant threats to coastal communities and ecosystems.

• Action Items & Equity Strategies

  Mean sea levels off the coast of Long Beach rose by approximately one millimeter per year from 1923 to 2016 according to tide gauge data, for a total of around 3.7 inches. This is expected to accelerate in the coming decades.

  Low-lying areas, such as Belmont Shore, Naples, and the Peninsula are already experiencing coastal flooding, particularly during combined high tide and rain events. As sea levels continue to rise, these areas of the city are expected to be more frequently impacted by higher storm tides, more extensive inland flooding and increased coastal erosion during storm events.

  The foundation of this approach includes monitoring, keeping track of the latest projections, and updating plans for the near-, medium-, and long-term on a regular basis. The suite of adaptation actions includes establishing the monitoring program; integrating consideration of sea level rise and related impacts into City policies, plans, and programs; investing in resilient infrastructure and buildings; and striving to preserve coastal access and recreation among others.
  
  
  

Mitigation Actions

Mitigation Actions that will work towards greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction have been identified through extensive engagement with City staff, subject matter experts, local stakeholders, and Long Beach residents and businesses.

Building + Energy

Reducing building energy use and using clean, renewable energy are necessary to meet the CAP’s 2030 targets. By improving energy efficiency in buildings and transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power, Long Beach can significantly reduce emissions associated with heating, cooling, and powering buildings.

• Action Items & Equity Strategies

  Electricity and natural gas use in residential and commercial buildings are responsible for about 25 percent of the emissions in the Long Beach GHG inventory. The electricity sector in California is rapidly evolving towards renewable energy. This evolution is the result of California’s aggressive Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) as well as market and technology changes that are making renewables increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels. One of the primary ways cities around the state are aiming to meet their near-term emissions reduction targets is to transition to 100 percent local consumption of renewable electricity before 2045. A renewable electricity transition will significantly reduce but not eliminate energy emissions from buildings because of the prevalence of natural gas in existing buildings

  The core focus of building energy actions is on transitioning Long Beach to renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency in existing and new residential, commercial, and municipal buildings. Energy-efficient buildings that are powered by clean, renewable energy will also improve outdoor and indoor air quality, improve overall comfort, and provide utility cost savings, which are important co-benefits for residents and businesses.
  
  

Transportation 

Addressing emissions from the transportation sector is essential for achieving climate goals and creating a more sustainable future. Transitioning to cleaner, more efficient transportation systems, including electric vehicles, public transit, biking, and walking, is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

• Action Items & Equity Strategies

  The transportation sector is typically the largest source of GHG emissions at the state, regional, and local levels. Decades of transportation policy and investment decisions in California – including in Long Beach – have produced a transportation system that is heavily dependent on fossil fuels and communities that are too reliant on single-occupant vehicles.
  
  The CAP transportation actions incorporate current City efforts to reduce GHG transportation emissions and new efforts to achieve greater reductions. The San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action Plan, the Long Beach Transit System-wide Transit Analysis and Reassessment (STAR) Initiative to improve transit service, continued expansion of the City’s bikeway and pedestrian networks, and increased housing and employment density along major transit corridors are existing efforts that not only have public health, mobility, and quality of life benefits but also reduce GHG emissions.
  
  

Waste 

Solid waste disposal creates emissions when organic waste, such as food scraps, yard trimmings, and paper and wood products, is buried in landfills and decomposition occurs that emits methane. Methane from landfill waste disposal is responsible for approximately 6 percent of the city’s GHG inventory.

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• Action Items & Equity Strategies

  The City, along with its franchise waste haulers, is responsible for collecting solid waste from homes and businesses. The portion of waste that the City collects is processed at the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility (SERRF), where it is sorted to remove additional recyclables and then incinerated to generate electricity. Through this process, SERRF helps to avoid landfill emissions and extends the operational life of regional landfills, while also providing energy recovery that can offset the additional use of non-renewable energy sources for electricity generation.
  
  To address the city’s solid waste emissions comprehensively, the CAP includes waste actions directed at services provided by the City and by private waste haulers. These actions include ensuring compliance with state waste regulations, which set requirements for different property types, and expanding community wide participation in organic waste collection.