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Monterey County opens 60-day public comment period on Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
Summary
Monterey County has opened a 60-day public comment period on its Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, available through Aug. 9 on a bilingual Conveio portal and by email; officials say the plan would help the county meet its 2030 and 2040 state-mandated climate targets.
Monterey County announced a 60-day public comment period for its Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan on June 10, offering the public a bilingual PDF on the Conveio platform and an email contact for those who prefer not to use the online tool.
"We are pleased to announce that we are starting our 60 day public comment period for our climate action and adaptation plan," said Cora Pantera, Sustainability Manager for Monterey County. Pantera said the portal accepts comments directly and that the period remains open through Aug. 9.
County staff presented the plan as a two-part effort: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing the community for climate impacts already underway. Pantera said the County’s 2019 community greenhouse gas inventory shows the top three emitting sectors are on-road transportation, agriculture and buildings, and that without further local action projected emissions through 2045 would miss state-mandated goals cited in the briefing as “SB 12 '79.”
Pantera told the briefing that the plan’s proposed measures — from urban forestry and cooling centers to incentives and pilot programs — would allow Monterey County to meet the County’s 2030 and 2040 targets. "With the climate action plan, we are able to meet the 2030 and 2040 goals," she said.
On transportation, Pantera said light‑duty vehicles are the largest source of transportation emissions and described ongoing work with Monterey Salinas Transit, the Transportation Authority for Monterey County, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission and other regional partners to rebalance routes, increase frequency where needed and expand shared- and zero‑emission mobility options.
On agriculture, Pantera said fertilizer application is the principal source of emissions and noted that the sector is already covered by an agricultural order referenced in the briefing ("AG order 4"). She said the County is exploring carbon‑sequestration and natural‑solutions pilots with farmers and ranchers.
For residents, Pantera said the plan includes programs to address building‑sector transitions, including incentives and green‑bank tools to ease affordability concerns as the County shifts away from fossil‑fuel use in buildings.
The public can comment directly on the Conveio platform (PDFs and the comment tool are available in English and Spanish) by following the QR code shown in the briefing or by email at climate@countyofmonterey.gov. Pantera said no account is required to submit comments and staff will compile all submissions for review.
