The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized the City of San Diego for committing to real-world action toward a low-carbon future as an inaugural partner in the DOE’s Better Climate Challenge. Along with more than 90 Better Climate Challenge partners across the country, the City has pledged to reduce municipal greenhouse gases (GHG) by 50% by 2030 and to work with the DOE to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies.

The Better Climate Challenge aligns with the City’s already ambitious plan to tackle the climate crisis through San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s Our Climate, Our Future initiative. This multi-faceted approach includes: 

• Significant updates to the City’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2035.
• The City’s first climate adaptation plan – Climate Resilient SD.
• Implementing an innovative Municipal Energy Strategy for City operations, including pilot projects like the Zero Net Energy Library initiative already implemented at three local libraries (see attached pictures of Serra Mesa-Kearny Mesa).
• A new approach to land use planning with Blueprint SD.
• Committing to the advancement of equity through tools like the Climate Equity Index and Climate Equity Fund.

“San Diego is a leader on climate action, and our target of reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2035 is setting the pace,” Mayor Gloria said. “Achieving our ambitious goals requires that we work collaboratively, which is exactly why we are joining like-minded cities and partner organizations in the DOE’s Better Climate Challenge to share best practices and identify ways to accelerate our journey to zero emissions.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge launched the Challenge during an Executive Roundtable held on Feb. 28.

“Better Climate Challenge partners like the City of San Diego are committing to decarbonize across their portfolio of buildings, plants and fleets and share effective strategies to transition our economy to clean energy,” said Secretary Granholm. “Their leadership and innovation are crucial in our collective fight against climate change while strengthening the U.S. economy.”

As San Diego undertakes the Better Climate Challenge and all of its current climate-related strategies, City leaders will continue to look for innovative ways to build more sustainably and seek workers to fill good-paying jobs that can help the City achieve clean energy technologies and advancements. 

The Better Climate Challenge is the government platform that provides transparency, accountability, technical assistance and collaboration to identify decarbonization pathways and provide recognition for leadership across the US economy. The Better Climate Challenge builds on over a decade of DOE experience through the Better Buildings Initiative.

Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with public and private sector organizations to make commercial, public, industrial and residential buildings more efficient, thereby saving billions of dollars on energy bills, reducing emissions and creating thousands of jobs. To date, more than 950 Better Buildings partners have shared their innovative approaches and strategies for adopting energy-efficient technologies. Discover more than 3,000 of these solutions in the Better Buildings Solution Center.