Building a Roadmap for Climate Action

In San Diego County, we know all too well how coastal flooding, wildfires and poor air quality can threaten our quality of life and economic prosperity.

This region thrives on its one-of-a-kind environment and in order to maintain that, we must continue to be a global leader on climate change.

According to research presented in the San Diego, 2050 is Calling report:

• Sea level is expected rise another 12-18 inches, causing serious flooding and property damage in low-lying coastal communities across San Diego County
• In San Diego County, we will use at least 60 percent more electricity by 2050, placing an even greater strain on our energy infrastructure and
• Large-scale fires will increase by as much as 20 percent, causing widespread loss of

For years, The San Diego Foundation has been working with regional partners to address these challenges and many more as we continue to adapt to the impacts caused by our changing climate.

Our 2020 Climate Impact Report highlights what we’ve been able to accomplish alongside our partners in business, government, philanthropy, academia and the nonprofit community.

But most importantly, it provides a roadmap for us to follow as we work collaboratively to implement long-term equitable solutions that build a resilient region, economy and ecosystem for all San Diegans.

Climate Leadership

In 2018, two years early, the City of San Diego reached its 2020 Climate Action Plan goal of cutting climate pollution and completed a first-in-the-nation Climate Equity Index to ensure equitable implementation of the Climate Action Plan. Three years prior, in 2015, Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas attended the UN Conference of Parties in Paris to advocate for stronger climate leadership in cities across the world.

Together, our local leaders have already made great strides that will benefit our region now and into the future.

With technical assistance support from The San Diego Foundation, seventeen regional cities and the County of San Diego have committed to supporting and implementing Climate Action Plans, and our region’s eight largest cities have committed to 100% clean energy.

These actions demonstrate a united commitment on climate change but also remind us that there is more work to be done.

While climate change affects everyone, people of color and historically marginalized communities, including under-resourced neighborhoods, are disproportionately impacted. In partnership with the San Diego Grantmakers Social Equity Collaborative Fund, we launched and funded a climate justice grantmaking initiative that prioritizes equity and amplifies a community-driven approach to local climate solutions.

“Communities of concern are on the front-lines of climate change, bearing the brunt of environmental degradation and air pollution,” shared Maria A. Muhammad, co-leader of our nonprofit partner The San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition. “Despite these immediate dangers, these communities are also often the last to receive access to important renewable energy education, technology and job training opportunities. These funds will strengthen the alignment and coordination between jobs, social equity, and climate.”

Planning for the Future

Working together with all communities and leaders, The San Diego Foundation will continue to ensure San Diego County remains a leader in climate action. Together, we can grow a more equitable, prosperous and resilient region.

Learn more about our Climate Initiative here, and dive in to our 2020 Climate Impact Report to see what leaders in all sectors can do to join this work.