Why is the City of San Diego committed to advancing more sustainable practices?

Simply stated, we respect the right of future generations to have the same or better quality of life that we have. This is possible only if we acknowledge that resources are limited, greenhouse gas emissions are cumulative, and that the impacts of pollution affects the health of our residents today and tomorrow. Policies and actions today can go a long way to demonstrate our respect for future residents.

Here are some steps taken by the City of San Diego:

City of San Diego Climate Protection Action Plan

• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program (EP3)
• Climate Protection Action Plan Executive Summary 2005 (PDF: 3.32 MB)
• Climate Protection Action Plan 2005 (PDF: 920K)

• Residents Polled on Growth in San Diego (PDF: 29K)
• The Warnings Are Out. The Tide is Rising (PDF: 141K)
• City's Environmental Services Department Takes Lead Role in Sustainable Practices (PDF: 17K)
• Survey Helps Bridge Communication Gap Regarding City's Environmental Efforts (PDF: 391K)

City Council Policies

• City of San Diego's Development Services Department Sustainable Expedite Program
• Sustainable Building Practices ("Green Building") for Public and Private Projects, May 20, 2003 (PDF: 12K)
• Energy Conservation and Management, June 19, 2001 (PDF: 13K)
• Purchase of Energy Efficient Products, June 19, 2001 (PDF: 8K)
• Alternative Fuels, April 24, 1995 (PDF: 19K)

City Manager Reports

• Active Participation in the San Diego Regional Energy Partnership, August 4, 2004 (PDF: 126K)
• Recycled Water Mandatory Reuse Ordinance Criteria, July 28, 2004 (PDF: 56K)
• San Diego Sustainable Community Program, January 7, 2004 (PDF: 56K)
• 50 Megawatt Renewable Energy Commitment and Formation of an Energy Independence Advisory Board (EIAB), August 27, 2003 (PDF: 83K)
• Sustainable Buildings Expedite Program, May 14, 2003 (PDF: 126K)
• San Diego Sustainable Community Program, October 9, 2002 (PDF: 82K)
• U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification Program (LEED), March 18, 2002 (PDF: 82K)
• San Diego Sustainable Community Program, January 4, 2002 (PDF: 56K)

Awards

• 2004 Climate Protection Award, presented by the US EPA (scroll down)
  • Press Release: City of San Diego Wins US Environmental Protection Award (PDF: 12K)
• 2003 Climate Change Communication Award, presented by the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
• 2003 International Competition of Sustainable Urban System Design (IC-SUSD), 2nd Place awarded to the City of San Diego (PDF: 425K)
• 2001 National Pollution Prevention Award (PDF: 7K)

Additional Information

• Resource Renewal Institute; Green Plans
• San Diego Earth Times
• San Diego Regional Energy Office
• Global Warming and Climate Change Science