El Cerrito Accomplishments:

General Plan Update

General Plan will be updated in the coming years to incorporate climate, active transportation, urban greening, healthy living and sustainable community strategies.
Housing Element will be updated to create a diverse mix of equitable housing types and incentivize innovative urban infill development, in response to Plan Bay Area and Regional Housing Needs Allocations.

Climate Action Planning

Climate Action Plan adopted May 21, 2013.
Held community workshops to involve community in Climate Action Planning process.
City Environmental Services Division adopted Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Targets of a 15% reduction of the 2005 level emission by the year 2020 and 30% reduction from the 2005 levels by 2035.
Approved participation in Institute for Local Government’s (ILG) ‘Beacon Award Program’ for local leadership towards solving climate change.
Together with surrounding cities of Albany, Piedmont and San Pablo received grant money through the EPA Climate Showcase Communities Program. Funding goes towards activities that establish and implement climate change initiatives.
Adopted an Urban Forest Plan to manage trees around the city.
Council appointed Environmental Quality Committee comprised of residents and businesses that work to raise awareness and encourage involvement in reducing the entire community’s environmental impact.
Joined ICLEI‘s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.

Community Support

Environmental Quality Committee
Created “A Greener El Cerrito” Newsletter with local news and ways to get involved for their interested residents.
El Cerrito Green Teams
Tree Committee
Friends of five creeks

City of El Cerrito Website

Last updated April 2019.

As elected officials we must do our part to protect the environment. It’s past the time to debate whether climate change is occurring. It’s time to act. As elected officials we need to develop programs to change our practices to reduce the activities that have a negative impact on our local community and to increase practices that have a position impact. We can make a difference.

Janet Abelson, Councilmember, City of El Cerrito, CA