Community engagement and participation in local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are critical to address climate change. 

As part of the Climate Action Plan (CAP) update process, the City hosted four topic-specific workshops at the Sustainability Commission meetings below:

August 17, 2023 - TRANSPORTATION
September 21, 2023 - ENERGY 
October 19, 2023 - WASTE & WATER
November 16, 2023 - ADAPTATION & SEQUESTRATION

To be notified of additional opportunities to participate, please sign up for e-notifications and select Climate Action Plan under both Calendar and News.

NOTE: City staff is also available to meet with small groups of community stakeholders (e.g. community, faith-based, and youth-focused groups, business networks, etc.) for focused discussions as part of the CAP update process. To learn more, please email: sustainability@novato.org 

Sustainability Commission: Transportation Workshop - August 17, 2023

Marin Countywide Electric Vehicle Acceleration Strategy

City of Novato Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan (2015)

City of Novato Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan - Addendum 1 (2023)

Sustainability Commission: July 20, 2023

Climate Action Plan Update Overview

The City of Novato completed its first community-wide GHG emissions inventory in 2005, which serves as the baseline to measure progress. A second inventory was produced in 2010 and annual inventories have been produced from 2014 through 2021 (the most recent year for which we have complete data). These inventories can be accessed below:

2005, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021

The 2021 GHG emissions inventory shows that the Novato community has reduced emissions 30%, which is equivalent to 18% below estimated 1990 emissions. Emissions dropped from about 369,971 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e) in 2005 to 258,616 MTCO2e in 2021. However, in order to meet the local and State target for 2030, Novato needs to reduce emissions another 69,930 MCO2e and a further 211,450 MTCO2e to meet the State target for 2050, which is 80% below 1990 levels.

As of 2021, the majority of local GHG emissions came from transportation (63%) followed by natural gas used in buildings (27%) as shown in the chart below. 

Note: Emissions from municipal operations are measured in five-year intervals, since they account for just 1% of emissions generated in Novato.

The City's 2009 Climate Change Action Plan outlined strategies to achieve a greenhouse gas reduction target of 15% below 2005 levels by the year 2020, consistent with the State’s direction to local governments in the Assembly Bill (AB) 32 Scoping Plan, and 40% below 2005 levels by 2035. 

GHG reduction measures from the 2009 CAP, and well as climate-related goals, policies, and programs were embedded into draft General Plan 2035, which now serves as the City's CAP.