Understanding our greenhouse gas impacts is the first step to climate action. Since 2015, the City’s Sustainability Division has been studying and implementing changes to the community wide and municipal operations. Read the most recent City’s Climate Action Progress Report.
Additionally, in 2022 the City updated its Climate Action Plan. This plan is a roadmap to reduce the greenhouse gasses to net zero by 2040. These climate action efforts include developing programs, policies, partnership, studies, and equity considerations and providing resources related to energy, waste, transportation, water, adaptation, and climate resiliency.
In response to the risk of climate change the City has identified six hazards of concern: adverse air quality impacts, extreme heat, extreme precipitation/storm flooding, wildfire, drought, and sea level rise. Several impacts of these hazards are being felt now and are projected to intensify in the future.
To protect people, assets, and natural systems, the City is engaging in climate adaptation and mitigation. This is defined as responding to actual or expected climate impacts, with the goal of mitigating harms or taking advantage of opportunities. More frequent periods[VM1] of drought and extreme heat due to climate change has resulted in a lengthening of the fire season. Dry spells during the winter months, especially when combined with winds and dead fuels, may result in fires that burn with a high intensity and rate. Severe weather events happening near Cupertino may impact the City, with more severe impacts possible as a broader geographic region is affected. With the increase in extreme weather events, regional transportation and communications lifelines are increasingly at risk. The City of Cupertino has reduced our greenhouse gas emissions over the past eight years but there is more work to be done. These climate action efforts include developing programs, policies, and resources related to energy, waste, transportation, water, adaptation and climate resiliency.
Cupertino's goal is to reduce our City's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by the year 2040.
The City is following the goals and development path of the Paris Climate Agreement and supports regional, state, and national policies which help reduce global emissions. Cupertino’s path toward creating a healthy, livable and vibrant place for its current and future residents to learn, work and play is outlined in its Climate Action Plan. An additional greenhouse gas inventory is included in the Climate Action Plan 2.0. visit engagecupertino.org/climate-action to learn more.. Learn more about the City Current, Upcoming and Long-term work plans on the Climate Action page. Progress reports are also available on this page.
