Hayward presents 2023 greenhouse‑gas inventory; staff says city remains below 2005 baseline but 2030 target will be challenging

Hayward City staff presented a communitywide greenhouse‑gas (GHG) emissions inventory for calendar year 2023 at the March 18 meeting, reporting an estimated 35% emissions reduction from a 2005 baseline and highlighting sector trends that staff and council said will inform the city’s climate actions.

Eric Pearson, environmental services manager, told the council the inventory includes Hayward Executive Airport emissions for the first time. “We found that in 2023 approximately 4,779 metric tons of emissions came from the airport,” Pearson said, a figure staff said represents roughly 0.8% of communitywide emissions and about 1.3% of total transportation emissions.

The inventory’s headline results and context

- 35% reduction in community emissions in 2023 relative to the 2005 baseline; the city met its 2020 and 2025 interim goals (staff said the 2020 drop was strongly influenced by pandemic‑era changes in travel). (Eric Pearson) - Electricity emissions have fallen…