San Rafael Council Declares Climate Emergency, Adjusts Emissions Reduction Goals

SAN RAFAEL, CA —San Rafael's City Council declared a climate emergency and updated the city's goals for reducing carbon emissions at a meeting Tuesday night.

The Climate Emergency Declaration allows the city to readjust its greenhouse gas reduction goal to align with state targets and recommit to "rapid climate action." Council members voted 4-0 to adopt the declaration.

The city aims to become carbon-neutral by 2045, which is in line with state goals. San Rafael has already committed to reducing greenhouse emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and to 80 percent by 2050.

Six other governments in Marin County have declared a climate emergency, according to the declaration: Tiburon, Novato, Fairfax, San Anselmo, Corte Madera, and the county as a whole.