Green

L.A. County’s first sustainability plan tackles carbon, air quality, transportation, resilience

April 12, 2019

Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the U.S., recently released a draft of a comprehensive sustainability plan.

The plan addresses carbon emission reduction, air quality, transportation, equitable and sustainable land use, and resilience. The land use section addresses gentrification and the ability of residents to afford to remain in their neighborhoods.

“With policy tools such as anti-displacement measures, existing community members can remain in and strengthen their neighborhoods and networks while accepting new residents through more compact, mixed-use development,” the plan says.

On resiliency, the plan addresses the impacts of “climate shocks.” One goal is to “integrate climate resilience and adaptation into planning, buildings, infrastructure, and community development decisions.”

Building standards and codes will be beefed up to reduce carbon emissions. The ambitious goals set in this section are:
· 2025 — All new buildings and 50% of major building renovations to be net-zero carbon
· 2035 — 75% of major building renovations to be net-zero carbon
· 2045 — 100% of major building renovations to be net-zero carbon

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