The City of Vista’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) provides a comprehensive roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and address the challenges of climate change in the city. The City first adopted a CAP in 2012 and was updated most recently in 2021. The CAP sets an ambitious goal to reduce emissions 42% below 2012 levels by 2030. The CAP identifies seven strategies and 13 measures to help the City reach its GHG reduction goals.

CAP Implementation Updates

The City is continuously and actively working to implement projects that align with the different strategies and measures called out in the CAP. City staff provide an annual update on the implementation of the CAP to City Council in the first week of October.

• The previous CAP Update was held on October 3rd 2024
  • Watch the workshop here
  • Or Click Here to read the Agenda Report

In addition, Staff has developed a Monitoring Report based on the work and progress the City has made toward Implementing the 2021 CAP Update.

• Link to CAP Monitoring Report (English)
• Link to Informe de Monitoreo del PAC (Spanish)

What is a Climate Action Plan?

A CAP is a long-range plan that outlines specific strategies to reduce GHG emissions. The City of Vista’s CAP sets a baseline for past and current GHG emissions, includes forecasts of future emissions, and establishes targets to help reduce future emissions. In the long term, the CAP will also achieve multiple community goals such as creating a cleaner Vista, reducing air pollution, supporting local economic development, and improving public health and quality of life.

California’s GHG Reduction Targets

The state has taken several steps to reduce GHG emissions and respond to the threat of global climate change. Two key pieces of legislation have codified California’s GHG reduction targets.

• Reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (a target established by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known as Assembly Bill 32).
• Reduce GHG emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 (targets establish by Senate Bill 32 in 2016).

Related Resources

• City’s Climate Action Plan 2021 Update
• City's Climate Action Plan Appendices
• Vista General Plan 2030, 2011 and associated Program EIR
• SANDAG’s Climate Action Data Portal
• San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative
• Clean Energy Alliance Energy Options
• California Air Resources Board, Climate Change Programs
• NASA’s Climate Change Dashboard

Contact
Cassidy McCarthy
Climate Action Plan Program Administrator
760.643.5219
email