La Mesa is working toward a solid climate action plan to reach emissions targets required by the state. La Mesa’s Climate Action Plan Council Subcommittee, alongside its Environmental Sustainability Commission, has spent most of 2017 discussing the best ways to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. As of December, they have come up with a draft in progress. Hard copies are available for public viewing at City Hall.

As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the draft for the Climate Action Plan includes: 

-       Plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to 15 percent below the 2010 baseline

-       Plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 to 53 percent below the 2010 baseline

-       Promoting public transportation

-       Updating the city’s General Plan to promote housing close to bus lines and the San Diego Trolley

-       Adding building codes that are beneficial to energy efficiency

-       Building more connected bike lanes and safe, pedestrian-friendly walkways

-       Providing electric vehicle charging stations

-       Plans for solid waste reductions

-       Adding tree canopy coverage

A new draft of the plan will be complete after Jan. 17, which is the deadline for public commentary. From there, it will be sent to the La Mesa Planning Commission. As part of the process for the Environmental Impact Report, an official action plan is set to be approved in February.