OUR GOAL
We are in a climate crisis and, like many other cities across the world, Petaluma is taking action. We are committed to achieving greenhouse gas carbon neutrality for the City of Petaluma by 2030. We are proud to be working with our community in acting decisively, joining and inspiring others, and initiating a movement to rehabilitate ecological balance, restore economic stability, and achieve our goal of carbon neutrality in our city.
During this first phase of our plan to achieve carbon neutrality, we are tackling transportation and encouraging our citizens to make a difference by choosing active transportation methods such as walking or biking when they can. Join us for upcoming community events where you will have the chance to enjoy time with friends and community members, get active, and help lower the greenhouse emissions in our city!
WHAT DOES CARBON NEUTRAL MEAN?
Carbon neutrality refers to balancing greenhouse gas emissions and climate pollution. This can be achieved by reducing and balancing carbon emissions through carbon offsets – programs that work to sequester/remove carbon from the atmosphere to make up for emissions elsewhere.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO
Reduce Carbon at Home
Learn how to easily switch to 100% renewable energy, as well as view information on the extensive rebates and financing programs available to help decarbonize your home.
Start by viewing these resources: BayRen | Sonoma Clean Power | Sonoma County Energy Independence Program.
Create a Cleaner Commute
When possible, adjust your commute to be less reliant on a car and instead incorporate bicycling, transit, or electric vehicles.
Conserve Water
Our Water Conservation team has various resources to help you reduce water use at home and at work through free programs, rebates and educational material. Click here to learn more.
Get Involved
Attend Climate Action Commission Meetings, the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30pm (currently by Zoom).
Learn more about Cool Petaluma and ways to engage by clicking here.
WHAT THE CITY IS DOING
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Retrofits
Coming soon!
Greening the Fleet
The City is the process of electrifying their fleet. The City is also moving forward to a transition to renewable diesel while we're in the process of full electrification.
Active Transportation
There are various Capitol Improvement Projects in motion to make Petaluma even more walkable and bikeable. Click here for current and upcoming projects.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Switching to 100% Renewable Energy
Approved by the City Council on February 22, 2021
New Construction All-Electric Reach Code
Approved by the City Council on May 17, 2021
General Plan Amendment on New Gas Stations
Approved on March 1, 2021
CLIMATE EMERGENCY FRAMEWORK
The Climate Emergency Framework is the result of collaboration of the Petaluma Climate Action Commission with input from city staff and volunteers in the community. Its purpose is to outline principles to guide the City’s ongoing response to and discussion about the climate crisis and to guide and inform subsequent policies and implementation strategies. These principles establish Petaluma’s shared vision of a healthy, sustainable, and equitable community. By setting the shared intention of this framework and working from the framework in subsequent planning efforts to create policy and implementation, the City will actively work to avoid catastrophic climate change and adapt to its expected impacts. The Framework consists of the following four sections:
Equity and Climate Justice discusses the ethical imperative to solve the climate crisis simultaneously with the crisis of inequity. This involves divesting from systems that harm public health, the economy, and the environment and invest in community-based solutions that create community stability, greater public health, and economic well-being for all community members.
Mitigation and Sequestration involves identifying the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Petaluma and taking action to reduce them, as well as how Petaluma can remove carbon from the atmosphere.
Adaptation and Social Resilience is about preparing our community for climate change impacts and develop the means to withstand the impacts that cannot be avoided.
Community Engagement discusses the necessity of a robust community conversation to address the climate crisis in order to work together to set and meet climate action targets and to strengthen the community in the process.
The City Council adopted the Climate Emergency Framework at its January 11, 2021 special meeting, directing staff to incorporate the Framework’s goals into future planning, policy, and action to help Petaluma be carbon neutral by 2030. We strongly encourage you to read the Framework, learn about what the City has done and is doing to combat climate change, and what you can do personally to stop climate pollution and help our City be healthier and more equitable.
We encourage you to sign up for our City Newsletter updates, which will regularly feature Climate Actions, as well as for information about Climate Action Commission meetings.