Climate Action and Adaptation Plan | City of Glendale, CA

The City of Glendale has adopted a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), which will serve as the roadmap for the city to equitably achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier. The CAAP will also demonstrate how Glendale will adapt and improve its resilience to both existing and future climate change impacts.

The (CAAP) is a framework of ideas and recommendations—not a list of pre-approved actions. Adoption of the CAAP does not authorize, fund, or mandate any specific measures. Any future actions identified in the plan will only move forward if separately brought to the City Council for consideration, public input, and a formal decision. The City Council retains full discretion to approve, modify, or decline any proposal. Adoption of the CAAP does not impose new requirements on residents or businesses, nor does it have any direct fiscal impact. Any future actions the Council may choose to adopt will be individually evaluated for potential costs, savings, and community impacts.

Climate Action & Adaptation Plan

About the Project

The Climate Mitigation component of the CAAP focuses on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through fossil fuel reduction in buildings and vehicles, while the Climate Adaptation component focuses on moderating or avoiding harm from the effects of climate change. The CAAP also identifies strategies and actions that promoted both adaptation and mitigation, such as building electrification with battery storage and expanding the urban forest.

Ven-Diagram_CAAP

Why is it important?

The City of Glendale is committed to building resilience. On November 9, 2010, the City adopted a resolution to address sustainability and climate change by using sustainability to guide policy. This CAAP will help the community reduce emissions and increase resilience.

The CAAP also brings the City into compliance with the state’s GHG reduction targets. It aims to reduce GHG emissions at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, as established by Senate Bill 32, and strives to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 or sooner, as established by Executive Order B-55-18 and codified by Assembly Bill 1279. This alignment positions the City to apply for grant funds to equitably address energy affordability and climate change.

What is Climate Change?

Climate change is driven by human (anthropogenic) activities primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. These activities release gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. These gases, commonly known as greenhouse gases or GHGs, absorb and re-emit heat that has been reflected from the Earth’s surface effectively increasing temperatures on Earth. Greenhouse gases from human activities have been collecting in the atmosphere since the 1800’s and are warming the climate more and more every year. The resulting rise in average temperatures across the globe affects precipitation patterns, the severity of wildfires, the prevalence of extreme heat events and droughts, and more.

Glendale is projected to continue to experience increased climate hazards as a result of climate change. These include more extreme and frequent rains and hotter days which drive negative health impacts, drought conditions, wildfire, and localized flooding. Air quality is also expected to worsen as a result of higher temperatures and more frequent wildfires.

Climate_Change_Graph

CAAP Development Process

To address climate mitigation, the CAAP process began with an inventory of GHG emissions in the community, which showed where emissions were being generated. This inventory helped establish GHG reduction targets as well as policies and strategies to achieve them.

To address climate adaptation, the CAAP process began with the development of a climate vulnerability assessment, which identified projected climate impacts in the community and the people, physical assets, and services most vulnerable to these impacts. The City then developed strategies and policies to increase the community’s resilience.

Finally, a funding and implementation measure was developed. In addition, a reporting and monitoring plan is being prepared to ensure the plan’s effectiveness. Ongoing monitoring and tracking will allow the City to stay on course to meet its targets and state goals.

CAAP Outreach Process

Our outreach was inclusive, creative, and community-driven, using a mix of events and tools to ensure broad participation. Instead of focusing on traditional workshops, we prioritized meeting people where they are—in neighborhoods, at local events, and through existing community spaces.

We encouraged active participation through:

Online tools (surveys, word clouds)
One-on-one meetings with CBOs
Focus groups and community workshops
Pop-ups and climate cafés
Visits to clubs, meetings, and businesses

We also used creative methods like cardboard cutouts and pyramids in public spaces to gather input.

These efforts reached nearly 1,900 community members, resulting in 758 pop-up responses, 660 comment cards, and 68% of the CAAP refined through community feedback.

CAAP Engagement Numbers

Project Resources

Glendale Initiatives

Sustainability

Energy

Water

Transportation

Waste

The Natural Environment & Wildfire

Health & Wellness

Fresh Air Program

To learn more about Citywide sustainability efforts, click here.