Napa County Invites Residents To Complete Online Survey On Climate Action

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Napa County residents are invited to participate in the Napa County Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP) survey and help create a plan that builds resilience and sustainability for Napa County's future.

The RCAAP is a collaborative effort led by six jurisdictions, including Napa County and the cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena and the Town of Yountville. The RCAAP aims to collectively tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and climate vulnerabilities, advancing sustainability and resilience goals for the region through aligned climate action and adaptation strategies, and identifying opportunities for resource-sharing. These communities are working together to create a comprehensive plan that addresses their unique challenges and opportunities.

All the jurisdictions will focus on reducing emissions in transportation, building energy and adapting to climate change. The county will also focus on reducing emissions from agriculture and opportunities to increase carbon sequestration. Since emission reduction and climate adaptation strategies may vary across different jurisdictions, feedback and engagement from the entire region are crucial for developing the RCAAP.

The Napa RCAAP website— https://climateactionnapa.konveio.com/ — is a central hub for resources related to the plan. Residents will also find ways to engage and can sign up to receive updates on community meetings and public hearings.

The next two Napa County Climate Action Committee meetings are June 28 and July 26, and the deadline to take the RCAAP survey is July 31.

Countywide Commitment To Address Climate Change

The Regional Working Group on Climate Change began meeting in September 2019 and transitioned into the Climate Action Committee in October 2019.

On Oct. 16, 2020, the CAC approved a Joint Powers Agreement creating a collaborative framework among the six jurisdictions, allowing the region to coordinate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change impacts.

In 2021, each local government adopted a resolution or proclamation regarding the "Countywide Commitment to Address Climate Change." The resolutions included efforts to:

• Acknowledge a climate emergency exists and threatens the region, state, country and world.
• Commit to a goal of net-zero climate pollution by or before 2030 and implement both immediate and sustained actions to achieve the goal.
• Recognize the need to work with community organizations, businesses, schools, regional partners, and jurisdictions to support comprehensive, immediate and sustained action to achieve the goal of net-zero climate pollution by or before 2030.

Forming the JPA and CAC laid the foundation for all six jurisdictions to collaborate in the RCAAP.