San Francisco narrows climate actions in 2025 update, stresses funding need

City officials presented a proposed 2025 update to San Francisco's Climate Action Plan that retains the city's net-zero-by-2040 goal while sharpening short-term goals through 2030.

The update, presented Feb. 4 by Cindy Commerford, Climate Program Manager, and Elizabeth Stamp, Senior Climate Action Coordinator for the San Francisco Department of the Environment, focuses implementation on transportation and buildings, adds financing and governance sections, and emphasizes equity and tracking. Commerford said the department's prior estimates put plan implementation costs at about $22 billion and that the city has already reduced emissions about 48% from 1990 levels.

Why this matters: Transportation and buildings are the city's main emission sources. The plan update proposes clearer, time-bound targets for mode shift and electrification so progress can be measured and reported. Department staff told commissioners that without predictable funding, the city risks losing momentum at a moment when federal support for climate programs is uncertain.

Major elements presented

- Mode shift and vehicle electrification: The staff proposal separates mode-shift goals (trips by walking, biking and transit) from vehicle electrification. The draft aims for 60% of trips by walking, biking and transit by 2030 and 80% by 2040; remaining vehicle trips are to be electrified with interim targets for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Elizabeth Stamp said the change was made to reduce confusion about what constitutes a 'low-carbon' trip.

- Buildings and housing: The plan reaffirms zero-emissions standards for new buildings and proposes a timeline for all buildings to reach zero emissions by 2040. Commissioners asked for the department's underlying assumptions and math; Commissioner Hunter said she was skeptical that full building decarbonization citywide is achievable within 15 years without strong financing and regulatory tools.

- Energy, water and ecosystems: The update continues Clean Power SF goals for renewable electricity and proposes a new water-supply resilience focus and a refined approach to ecosystems: rather than relying on sequestration capacity, staff proposed biodiversity, greening and a target of 30,000 new street trees by 2030.

- Governance, financing and equity: New sections will address funding strategies, governance, innovation and a racial and social equity review of the draft actions. Staff said they are coordinating with departments and expect public outreach to begin soon, including language-access virtual meetings.

Questions and public comment

Commissioners pressed staff for clearer metrics in some sections (water supply goals and circular-economy targets) and for annual reporting cadence on progress. Public commenters, including representatives of San Francisco Climate Emergency Coalition and allied health organizations, urged the commission and mayor to fund the plan fully and to maintain the Climate Equity Hub that aids low-income households with electrification.

Bottom line: The draft preserves the city's overall targets and tightens nearer-term, measurable actions, but staff and commissioners said achievement will depend on funding and cross-departmental implementation. The department plans further outreach and an equity review before publishing the final update later in 2025.