The County of Santa Clara has updated its climate goal, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030, a steeper challenge than its previous goal of 2045. This more demanding target is driven by a rising awareness of the dangers of climate change, including wildfires, extreme storms, and lethal heatwaves, according to the County of Santa Clara announcement. An urgency for decisive action is increasingly clear.

County supervisors upped the environmental ante on Tuesday, voting to adopt a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 – 15 years earlier than what was previously envisioned. Learn more about the plan to do this at https://t.co/tP5Hdc1sud pic.twitter.com/gCjIPsegcr

— County of Santa Clara (@SCCgov) October 3, 2023

In an attempt to achieve carbon neutrality in eight years, the county will implement multiple necessary actions in a strategy termed the "Roadmap to 2030 Carbon Neutrality for County Operations." This approach focuses on areas such as buildings, facilities, employee commute, vehicle fleet, and solid waste. By examining carbon sequestration possibilities on county parklands combined with these sectors, the County of Santa Clara aims to eliminate natural gas use, commute emissions, and fleet emissions while averting all organic waste, as detailed in the announcement.

Santa Clara County has already shown significant greenhouse gas emission reductions in its operations, dropping by 18% between 2015 and 2019, and 26% since 2005. The county, a climate action leader with a history of addressing issues like energy efficiency, renewable power, and more, is guided partly through its Office of Sustainability and Facilities and Fleet Departments.

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 is ambitious. It hinges on procuring adequate financial resources, access to technology, and the feasibility of proposed tasks. Santa Clara County has submitted numerous grant proposals to the state and the federal level. It reflects a commitment to the cause and optimism that necessary funding will be available for these strategic investments.

Though local governments often resist the chore of driving large-scale environment-friendly improvements, County Supervisor Joe Simitian believes county-level climate initiatives play a crucial role in serving widespread buy-in. Simitian, who authored California’s notable renewable energy legislation, stated that combating climate change on a county level can serve broader state and national interests in the climate change battle.