Climate Action Initiatives

Over the past 100 years, greenhouse gas emissions world-wide have increased exponentially due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. The City of Antioch has a goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and seeks the help of community members, local businesses, and public agencies in order to reduce our dependence upon fossil fuels and improve our local air quality. Join us in making Antioch a clean and healthy community.

The City is working on updates to our Waste Prevention programs to address regulations related to California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Reduction Strategy (SB1383).  Updates and information on this effort can be found here.

2020 Antioch Climate Action Resilience Plan (CARP)

 The 2020 Climate Action Resilience Plan was adopted by City Council in May of 2020 as an update to the 2011 Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). Because our community is beginning to see the effects of climate change and will continue to see more changes in the coming years, the City has decided to add resilience (responding to climate challenges) into the planning process. This could mean anything from increasing energy efficiency in homes facing higher temperatures to providing safe and secure transportation in the case of a flood, earthquake, or other emergency. Preparing for these changes is a central focus of the CARP.

City of Antioch Climate Action Initiative Milestones

2007: Antioch joins ICLEI

The City of Antioch commitment to mitigating climate change began in September 2007, when the City Council of Antioch unanimously approved Resolution 2007/69, authorizing the City of Antioch to join the ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), an international collective of local governments dedicated to sustainability. Antioch is one of over 1,500+ cities around the world to participate in the CCP campaign, which makes up more than 25 percent of the global urban population. The member cities across the ICLEI network have committed to building a more sustainable urban future.

2009: Antioch adopts GHG reduction targets

On June 23, 2009, the City Council of Antioch unanimously approved Resolution 2009/57 adopting GHG reduction targets to reduce overall carbon emissions by 25% (2005 levels) by 2020 and 80% by 2050 as mandated by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2016 (AB 32).

2011: Antioch adopts Municipal and Community Climate Action Plans

On May 24, 2011, the City Council approved the Community and Municipal Climate Action Plans. These plans highlight possible programs and actions that the city can use to reach emission reduction targets to reduce overall carbon emissions by 25% (2005 levels) by 2020 adopted by Resolution 2009/57. In accordance with statewide GHG reduction goals, Antioch currently has targets to reduce overall carbon emissions by 25% by 2020, 40% by 2030, and 80% by 2050, based on 1990 levels.

2016: Greenhouse Gas Inventories

On September 13, 2016, City Council approved completed GHG inventories for the years 2005, 2010, and 2015. These GHG inventories have allowed the City of Antioch accurately monitor the ways it has been successful in reducing emissions. Further, this information can help to establish policies and programs will help to meet local and statewide emission reduction goals.

The results of the GHG inventory compassion between 2005-2015 show an emission reduction of about 21% in the Municipal Sector, which has a direct correlation to emission reduction efforts of the city. Whereas, the Community emission reductions only show a decrease of about 12% between 2005-2015.

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2018: Idle Free Proclamation

On March 13, 2018, the City Council passed an Idle Free Proclamation – taking

action to improve local air quality and becoming one of the first cities in Contra Costa County to pass a Proclamation to encourage city employees and the public to limit vehicle idling. An idling car wastes money and produces harmful carbon dioxide – the leading GHG. Make sure to recognize the facts from the myths on this issue. The “Turn the Key Be Idle Free” campaign is an effort between the Spare the Air Resource Team, its partner organizations, and schools to educate parents about vehicle idling. Join the campaign today by taking the pledge to be idle free.

2019: The Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge

On Earth Day 2019, in collaboration with Contra Costa County, Sustainable Contra Costa and the cities of Antioch, Walnut Creek, and San Pablo we launched The Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge. The Challenge is made possible with funding through the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Climate Protection Grant Program.

The Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge is an online sustainable action platform that makes it easy and fun to take sustainable actions by giving you helpful tips and resources for those actions. The Challenge tracks your savings (both in dollars and emissions) and provides you with opportunities to engage with your neighbors and learn more about our community.

Join your neighbors in a bit of friendly competition to lower our emissions, while all playing for the same team! When we reduce our impact by conserving resources, cutting energy costs, decreasing our use of dirty fuels, and investing in local opportunities, everybody benefits!

Log in and sign up today!

2020: Antioch adopts the Climate Action and Resilience Plan

In May 2020, Antioch City Council adopted the Climate Action and Resilience Plan. This decision allows City staff to focus on helping communities prepare for future climate-related changes in addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Taking adaptation to climate change, emission reductions, and community mobilization together is a more holistic approach that allows the City to use resources more efficiently and effectively. For more information on the Climate Action and Resilience Plan, click here.

2021 and Beyond: Collective Action

The City of Antioch is committed to creating a cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant community for current and future generations. It is our civic responsibility as individuals and a community to join together now and start making more sustainable decisions in order to prevent pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to protect and preserve the wellbeing of our community and ecosystems. Each decision we make, from the groceries we buy to the amount of electricity we use in our homes produces GHG emissions, and traps heat in our atmosphere. Together as a community, we can make a difference by actively choosing to conserve our resources by making smart shopping decisions, saving energy and water, reducing our waste, using alternative green transportation, and reusing materials to reduce our GHG emissions and impact on our community.

For additional information about the City of Antioch’s climate protection efforts, please contact us!

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