Input sought on Hayward Climate Action Plan update

The City of Hayward is seeking community input on a draft update of its Climate Action Plan that aims to cut carbon emissions by 55 percent by the year 2030 and put Hayward on a path to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases act like a blanket or cap, trapping heat that might otherwise radiate out into space and cause climate-altering global warming.

Like the City’s original Climate Action Plan adopted in 2009, the draft update contains dozens of policy and programmatic strategies for reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon absorption by changing how we get around, power homes and workplaces, manage landscapes and in other ways.

These include rebate programs to reduce the cost of bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters; installing more EV charging stations; encouraging electricity customers to choose 100 percent renewable energy plans; planting more trees and asking homeowners to shift from natural gas to fully electric appliances.

To learn more and provide input, go online here to the Climate Action Plan Update project website and consider attending Climate Action Plan Workshop #3, which is to be held on the Zoom virtually meeting platform from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30. Workshop attendance and registration information is available here.

Questions and input can also be directed to project team at environment@hayward-ca.gov.