On December 3rd, the city and county of San Francisco was recognized by the White House as one of 16 Climate Action Champion communities in the US. San Francisco has established aggressive climate and sustainability targets, which include improvements in energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation, water, green infrastructure, and waste. The city aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2017, and 40 percent by 2025. Climate adaptation, like that envisioned in the Ocean Beach Master Plan, is also a key ingredient.
The proactive adaptation measures for Ocean Beach – including managed retreat, coastal protection, and environmental restoration -- have also garnered the attention of the Obama administration, most recently through a visit from Interior Secretary, Sally Jewell. She and Mayor Ed Lee were able to witness firsthand the state of erosion and the impacts of rising seas here in San Francisco, and made a call to action to mitigate climate change. In June, Mike Boots, acting chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality was briefed on the Ocean Beach Master Plan and visited the eroding shoreline. The visits highlight San Francisco's cutting-edge planning and policy on climate issues.