Carlsbad receives 2025 Climate Action Plan annual report; canopy cover drops to 15.84%

Katie Hentrich, the city’s climate action plan administrator, presented the 2025 annual report and dashboard updates. Hentrich summarized the CAP’s structure (23 measures, 100 actions) and reported progress through 2025: seven actions completed, 13 in progress and on schedule, two in progress but delayed, 50 ongoing and 28 not started. She said the CAP calls for a 50% greenhouse‑gas reduction by 2035 and an 85% reduction by 2045.

Hentrich highlighted 2025 monitoring benchmarks and early wins: municipal accounts for wastewater pump stations, recycled water pumps, city facilities and lighting were switched to 100% renewable through the Clean Energy Alliance (the official switch occurred in July 2025). Staff completed an urban canopy assessment showing citywide canopy cover at 15.84%, about a one percent decrease since the 2018 assessment; Hentrich said the decrease reflected losses on non‑city‑maintained properties while city‑maintained canopy increased slightly.

Public commenters urged closer attention to tree‑canopy decline and corrective steps. Diane Nygaard of Preserve Calavera asked staff to return with a corrective action plan after noting that canopy cover declined despite large tree‑planting efforts; Kyle Lancaster, parks and recreation director, described the city’s integrated pest management plan and "organics first" approach to pesticide use. Questions from councilmembers included timing for the Clean Mobility Charging Master Plan, incentives for residents, the timeline for potential leaf‑blower ordinances associated with AB 1346 and outreach on EV charging siting; staff said analysis and drafting would follow the CAP timelines (some measures aimed for a 2030 effective date unless council directs acceleration).

Council received the report; staff will present further data and recommended next steps to commissions and return on specific follow‑ups.