Project Overview
The Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate change impacts throughout the Napa region. The plan guides Napa County, the cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, and St. Helena, and the Town of Yountville. The RCAAP will prioritize emission reduction in the areas of transportation, building energy, waste disposal, water use, and land use. The RCAAP will also promote preparedness for climate-related hazards such as extreme weather, wildfires, and floods by strengthening critical infrastructure, restoring natural ecosystems, and improving emergency responses.
Multi-Jurisdiction Climate Action Planning and Engagement
The Napa County RCAAP is a multi-jurisdictional planning and engagement effort that aims to coordinate climate action and adaptation efforts and identify resource-sharing opportunities across the six jurisdictions in the County. While cities focus on reducing emissions in transportation and building energy, and adapting to climate change in urban areas, the County will focus on reducing agricultural emissions, sequestering carbon, and supporting regional initiatives like diverting organics from landfills or enhancing wildfire resilience. Because emission reduction and climate adaptation strategies may differ across jurisdictions, feedback and engagement throughout the region are critical for developing the RCAAP.
Background
The Regional Working Group on Climate Change began meeting in September 2019, transitioning into the Climate Action Committee (CAC) in October 2019. On October 16, 2020, the CAC approved a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), creating a collaborative framework among six jurisdictions. The six jurisdictions include Napa County and the cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, and St. Helena, along with the Town of Yountville. This framework allows the region to work to coordinate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change impacts.
In 2021, each local government adopted Resolutions or Proclamations regarding the "Countywide Commitment to Address Climate Change." The resolutions include efforts to:
- A climate emergency exists and threatens our region, state, country, and world.
- Each jurisdiction commits to a goal of net zero climate pollution by or before 2030 and to implement both immediate and sustained actions to achieve the goal.
- Each jurisdiction recognizes the need to work with community organizations, businesses, schools, regional partners, and jurisdictions to support comprehensive, immediate, and sustained action to achieve collaboratively with each other and alongside community organizations, businesses, schools, and regional partners goals of net zero climate pollution by or before 2030.
The establishment of the JPA and CAC laid the foundation for all six jurisdictions to collaborate in the preparation of the upcoming RCAAP.
Education and Visioning
Spring 2024
Share insights on emissions reduction, climate resilience, and priorities. Explore RCAAP topics like sustainability concepts, GHG inventory data, and ongoing engagement opportunities.
Engagement Goal: Introduce RCAAP to the Napa community through events, social media updates, and newsletters. Foster trust and transparency to lay the groundwork for project success.
Strategy Development and Prioritization
Summer 2024
Work with the community to explore actions and strategies to help maximize GHG reductions and climate resilience across the Napa region.
Engagement Goal: Collect input via surveys, community meetings, events, and focus groups throughout the region to ensure that proposed actions align with community values and are feasible for implementation.
Public Draft RCAAP
Fall 2024
Review and comment on the Draft RCAAP. Provide direct input on actions and measures presented to help guide revisions that best align with your goals and values.
Engagement Goal: Offer residents, community groups, and interested parties the opportunity to review, critique, and enhance the Draft RCAAP through community meetings aimed at refining the Draft Plan.
Final RCAAP
Winter 2024/2025
Review the proposed Final RCAAP and voice your support or concerns at public meetings. Learn how you can stay connected to help implement the RCAAP.
Engagement Goal: Utilize public hearings to inform the region about the proposed approval of the Final RCAAP, demonstrate how the strategy has been shaped by community input, and share the next steps for implementation.