This toolbox contains 74 actions already taken by cities, counties, and regional governments which can mitigate the deterioration of the Earth’s climate. Feel free to adapt them to your region.
For details about the Actions offered by the Toolbox see the Overview
Use this filter to find local actions by region, sector, or state
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Energy use reporting
Buildings, Energy / November 10, 2021Description: Some cities are requiring building owners to publicly disclose the annual energy and water used in their buildings. New York City Local Law 84 initially required buildings larger than …
Ensure climate literacy
Community Education & Action / November 09, 2021Description: A Climate Literacy Committee was formed within the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club in 2016 to ensure that high school students graduate climate literate. This Committee …
Create clean energy fund
Buildings, Community Education & Action, Energy, Equity / November 09, 2021Description: The Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), also known as the Portland Clean Energy Initiative, was a measure that appeared on the Portland (Oregon) municipal ballot on November 6, 2018. …
Electric vehicle (EV) rebates
Air Pollution Agencies / November 07, 2021Description: Programs offered by state air pollution agencies and administered by participating electric utilities or community choice energy services can provide incentives and rebates to prospective buyers of Battery Electric …
Reduce VMT by congestion mitigation tax
Transportation & Land Use / November 07, 2021Description: A ballot proposal was passed in San Francisco, CA in November 2019 that would place a tax on rideshare companies (also known as Transportation Network Companies) like Uber and …
Reduce VMT by congestion pricing
Transportation & Land Use / November 07, 2021Description: Transportation Demand Management or Cordon Area Congestion Pricing (also called Value Pricing by the Federal Highway Authority) is considered by most transportation experts to be the most effective strategy …
Reduce single-use disposable (SUD) foodware and packaging
Waste / November 06, 2021Description: Single-use disposable foodware and packaging (SUDs) – including plates, cutlery, cups, lids, straws, “clamshells” and other containers – are a major contributor to street litter, ocean pollution, marine and …
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Transportation District grants
Transportation & Land Use / November 06, 2021Description: The San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation District established a grant program to award transportation infrastructure dollars to the cities and counties that produce or preserve the largest number …
Material reuse ordinance
Materials, Waste / November 05, 2021Description: In Portland, OR, more than 250 to 300 single-family homes are demolished each year. This produces thousands of tons of waste — a majority of which could be salvaged …
Increased access to ZEVs
Equity, Transportation & Land Use / November 05, 2021Description: The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund awarded funding to the Sacramento Air Quality Management District to start the CarShare program in the Greater Sacramento, CA area. It has provided free …
Implement neighborhood leadership panel
Equity / November 04, 2021Description: In July of 2020, the city of Oakland, CA approved its 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP), the City’s new 10-year plan for mitigating and adapting to the climate …
Use low-GHG cement
Industry, Materials / November 03, 2021Description: The climate action plan for King County, WA includes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a criterion in purchasing decisions. King County implemented a tracking mechanism for concrete and cement …
Increase local renewable energy
Energy / November 03, 2021Description: The city of San Diego, CA was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to participate in a collaborative effort to explore new ways …
Cool Block program
Community Education & Action / November 02, 2021Description: The Cool Block program (previously piloted in the California cities of Los Angeles, Palo Alto, and San Francisco) engages teams of neighbors living on a block (or in an …
Hire sustainability coordinator
Community Education & Action / November 01, 2021Description: Novato (Marin County, CA) is an example of a small municipality, which can find it difficult to implement its climate action plan without dedicated internal resources and knowledgeable staff. …
Promote lowest feasible carbon emissions
Community Choice Aggregation, Energy / October 31, 2021Description: Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs serve their customers by providing different power products offering varying percentages of clean power, up to 100% renewable. Examples of CCAs leading on decarbonization …
Reverse high exit fees
Community Choice Aggregation / October 31, 2021Description: State level utility commissions in states allowing Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) may impose fees on CCAs intended to prevent rate increases for accounts that remain with investor owned utilities …
California reach code requiring solar and living roofs
Buildings / October 30, 2021Description: Effective January 1st, 2017, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to mandate solar and living roofs on most new construction. With the passage of this amendment to California’s …
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California reach code for cool roofs and solar PV
Buildings / October 30, 2021Description: Brisbane, CA adopted a local amendment to California’s 2016 Title 24 Building Efficiency Standards. The amendment requires installing cool roofs (reflective roofing that reduces sunlight absorbed by buildings) and solar …
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California reach code for efficient outdoor lighting
Buildings / October 29, 2021Description: Chula Vista reduced the maximum outdoor lighting power allowances (LPA) from the maximum allowed wattages in the 2016 Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards for nonresidential building occupancies by 32-81 …
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