Saratoga progresses on emissions reduction goal

The city of Saratoga has decreased its local emissions by 27% in the last 30 years, staff announced during the City Council meeting Nov. 16.

This milestone is just 13 percentage points shy of the city's 1990 goal to reduce its overall emission levels by 40% in 40 years.

“It's good news that the city is on target to achieve its 2030 goals, which is 40% reduction in greenhouse gasses from 1990 levels,” Mayor Tina Walia said. “For a city of our small size, with limited resources, we have done tremendously well.”

Mainini Cabute, Saratoga's environmental programs manager, presented an update to the Saratoga Climate Action Plan 2030, which highlights state and local strategies to help reduce emissions. The City Council adopted the plan in December 2020.

Cabute said the city wants to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure and encourage zero-emission vehicle ownership to further reduce emissions. A local study found nearly half of Saratoga's emissions come from transportation.

Residential emissions from electricity and natural gas use was the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Saratoga, and staff is encouraging efficiency upgrades and adopting more energy-efficient standards for new construction and remodels.

Still, local electricity use in homes decreased by 17% from 2005 to 2020, and emissions from electricity consumption decreased 94%.

State laws are setting goals for cities to achieve carbon neutrality. Newly signed Assembly Bill 1279 established a statewide target to reduce emissions by 85% below 1990 levels by 2045.

“I know the state requirements are continuing to increase, which can look very challenging, but at the same time there are more programs that the city can put in place with our partners,” Walia said.

Staffers said they expect the state will introduce new programs in the future to help cities meet the new targets, which would be added to Saratoga's Climate Action Plan.

The plan outlines eight categories for reducing overall emissions, including low-carbon transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, carbon sequestration, adaptation and community engagement.