LOS ANGELES—Mayor Eric Garcetti today released Los Angeles’ Green New Deal, which sets aggressive goals for the city’s sustainable future, tackles the climate emergency with accelerated targets, strengthens our economy and our middle class, and sets L.A. on course to be carbon neutral by 2050.
“Politicians in Washington don’t have to look across the aisle in Congress to know what a Green New Deal is — they can look across the country, to Los Angeles,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. “With flames on our hillsides and floods in our streets, cities cannot wait another moment to confront the climate crisis with everything we’ve got. L.A. is leading the charge, with a clear vision for protecting the environment and making our economy work for everyone.”
L.A.’s Green New Deal is guided by four key principles: a commitment to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement; a promise to deliver environmental justice and equity through an inclusive green economy; a plan to ensure every Angeleno has the ability to join the green economy by creating pipelines to good paying, green jobs; and a determination to lead by example within City government, showing the world what an urban Green New Deal looks like in practice.
The Green New Deal leads with bold action to zero out Los Angeles’ main sources of harmful emissions: buildings, transportation, electricity, and trash. Our accelerated goals and new targets include:
- Building a zero carbon electricity grid — reaching an accelerated goal of 80% renewable energy supply by 2036 as we lead California toward 100% renewables by 2045.
- Creating a Jobs Cabinet to bring city, labor, educational, and business leaders together to support our effort to create 300,000 green jobs by 2035 and 400,000 by 2050.
- Mandating that all new municipally owned buildings and major renovations be all-electric, effective immediately, and that every building in Los Angeles — from skyscrapers to single family homes — become emissions free by 2050.
- Achieving a zero waste future by phasing out styrofoam by 2021, ending the use of plastic straws and single-use takeout containers by 2028, and no longer sending any trash to landfills by 2050.
- Recycling 100% of our wastewater by 2035; sourcing 70% of our water locally — a significant increase from our existing pathway; and nearly tripling the maximum amount of stormwater captured.
- Planting and maintaining at least 90,000 trees — which will provide 61 million square feet of shade — citywide by 2021 and increasing tree canopy in low-income, severely heat impacted areas by at least 50% by 2028.
The Green New Deal’s targets solidify L.A.’s position as the national leader in solar energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, and green jobs. It incorporates initiatives from 44 partner organizations, employing a unique, collaborative, multi-sector approach to meeting our shared goals of a more sustainable, equitable city. Our plan also calls for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 — outpacing the standards set by the United Nations IPCC report.
Taken together, by 2050, the work and milestones of our Green New Deal are expected to save more than 1,600 lives, 660 trips to the hospital, and $16 billion in avoided healthcare expenses each year.
Four years ago, Mayor Garcetti released Los Angeles’ Sustainable City pLAn — his vision for a more sustainable, prosperous, and just Los Angeles, built on three Es: the environment, the economy, and equity.
The City has already met or exceeded 90% of the pLAn’s near-term goals on time or early, and Angelenos have seen the results: L.A. became the number-one solar city in America, pioneered new transportation technologies, reduced the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 11% in a single year, and created more than 35,000 green jobs.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the other measures and accomplishments that have set Los Angeles on a path to carbon-neutrality by 2050:
- Developed comprehensive solar incentive programs for residents and businesses, which helped make Los Angeles the #1 Solar City in America.
- Named the #1 ENERGY STAR City by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for having the most energy-efficient buildings in the U.S.
- Launched an unprecedented feasibility analysis with LADWP to study an equitable transition from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy.
- Signed the Fossil Fuel Free Streets Declaration alongside 11 other C40 Mayors — which pledges to procure only zero-emission buses by 2025 and ensures that a major area of Los Angeles will be emissions-free by 2030.
- Installed 2,100 publicly available electric vehicle charging stations — the most of any U.S. city — with a plan for another 10,000 by 2022.
- Created a national platform for municipal fleet procurement — the Climate Mayors EV Purchasing Collaborative — after 30 Climate Mayors cities demonstrated the potential demand for over 114,000 electric vehicles of all types, including trash trucks, street sweepers, semis, shuttles, and buses — representing $10 billion in investment.
For more information, or to download a copy of L.A.’s Green New Deal, visit: plan.lamayor.org
Support for L.A.’s Green New Deal from Key Community Partners
Andres Ramirez, L.A. Clean Energy Coalition: “The Los Angeles Clean Energy Coalition applauds Mayor Garcetti for establishing the Green New Deal in our city. This is a great day for Los Angeles! LACEC commits to helping the city reach its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045. We also applaud the plan’s vision to champion equity and establish a goal to improve the Cal Enviro Screen scores of frontline communities in L.A.”
Mike Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club: “Mayor Garcetti's Green New Deal for Los Angeles is an example of the strong leadership and bold action we need in communities across the country to transition beyond dirty fuels and prevent the worst of the climate crisis. Los Angeles is stepping up to inspire the nation in how a city can transition to a clean energy economy that is rooted in equity to ensure everyone can access clean, affordable energy and new career opportunities.”
Mark Watts, Executive Director, C40 Cities: “Los Angeles’ pLAn sets a framework for what a green new deal means in action. The emissions reductions it targets are consistent with delivering on the ambition of the Paris Climate Agreement and keeping global temperature rise to within levels that scientists say are manageable. Thanks to Mayor Garcetti’s vision, all Angelenos will enjoy a healthier, more prosperous and sustainable future. Cities around the world are watching closely and taking inspiration from Los Angeles, because this is the thriving, low-carbon future we need being created before our eyes.”
Mary Leslie, President of the Los Angeles Business Council: “We applaud Mayor Garcetti for his leadership on sustainability and taking bold action to accelerate the city’s goal, attracting new investment and doubling the clean energy jobs over the next 15 years. Now is the time to make strong investments in our clean energy future. We look forward to achieving these goals in partnerships with business and community leaders.”
Veronica Padilla-Campos, Executive Director of Pacoima Beautiful: “We appreciate the leadership of Mayor Garcetti in establishing our city’s plan in the fight against climate change. L.A.’s Green New Deal sets the important precedent of prioritizing environmental justice communities. We applaud the establishment of the Climate Emergency Commission to include communities such as Pacoima in the implementation of the plan. We look forward to working with the Mayor in making sure our city’s Green New Deal is rooted in equity and benefits communities most in need.”
Bahram Fazeli, Policy Director at Communities for a Better Environment: “We really appreciate that Mayor Garcetti has made it clear in L.A.’s Green New Deal that a just transition away from fossil fuels and towards creating a strong clean energy economy must start with protecting front-line communities.”
Michael Kadish Executive Director of GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles: “Mayor Garcetti understands that facing the challenge of climate change is not only a responsibility, but an opportunity. We will continue to work with him to make sure that the jobs and benefits created by the Green New Deal are available to everyone in Los Angeles.”