The Climate Action Plan contains actions that the City can undertake to reduce its own emissions by about 1,500 MTCO2e, bringing the emissions from municipal operations down to 56% below 2005 levels. However, since emissions from governmental operations make up less than 1% of community-wide emissions, that is just a drop in the bucket.
The fact is that our residents, businesses, workers, and visitors will have to do their part to ensure we meet our reduction targets. The City can compel some of these actions by adopting ordinances and building regulations, but much of the success of our plan will depend on informing our community members and encouraging them to take action on their own. This section details the ways in which the City will seek public engagement and work with local businesses and community groups to achieve the emissions reductions identified for measures in other sections of the Plan.
The City has been partnering with Resilient Neighborhoods since 2009 to educate San Rafael residents on ways they can reduce their carbon footprint. The program organizes Climate Action Teams of up to 12 households that meet five times over two months to learn about strategies and resources to improve home energy efficiency, shift to renewable energy, use low-carbon transportation, conserve water, reduce waste, and adapt to a changing climate. To start, participants calculate their household carbon footprint and then take actions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5,000 pounds or 25%. Over 350 San Rafael residents have participated in the program.
The City will take the following actions to engage the community to reduce emissions.
Table 14: community engagement measures to reduce community emissions
| ID | Measure |
| CE-C1 | Community Education |
| CE-C2 | Community Engagement |
| CE-C3 | Advocacy |
| CE-C4 | Innovation and Economic Development |
| CE-C5 | Green Businesses |
What is the City of San Rafael Going to Do to Help?
Work with community-based outreach organizations, such as Resilient Neighborhoods, to educate and motivate community members on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their homes, businesses, transportation modes, and other activities.
Implement a communitywide public outreach and behavior change campaign to engage residents, businesses, and consumers around the impacts of climate change and the ways individuals and organizations can reduce their GHG emissions and create a more sustainable, resilient, and healthier community. Create an overarching theme to articulate a long-term goal, motivate community members, and brand a comprehensive suite of GHG-reduction programs. Prioritize promotion of programs that have the greatest greenhouse gas reduction potential while utilizing the latest social science on behavior change. Emphasize and encourage citizens' involvement in reaching the community's climate goals, including innovative means of tracking milestones and comparing San Rafael's performance with other communities and with state, national and global benchmarks.
- Conduct outreach to a wide variety of neighborhood, business, educational, faith, service, and social organizations.
- Conduct outreach and education to the Latino community by using media, organizations, and gathering places favored by Latinos and translating materials into Spanish.
- Inform the public about the benefits of installing energy and water efficient appliances and fixtures, electrifying homes and commercial buildings, installing solar energy systems, and purchasing 100% renewable electricity.
- Inform the public about the benefits of using carbon-free and low-carbon transportation modes, such as driving electric vehicles, walking, bicycling, taking public transportation, and ridesharing.
- Utilize and tailor existing marketing materials when available.
- Inform the public about the environmental benefits of eating less meat and dairy products, growing food at home, and purchasing locally-produced food.
- Partner with MCE, PG&E, MMWD, Marin Sanitary Service, Transportation Authority of Marin, Marin Transit, Golden Gate Transit, SMART, and other entities to promote available financing, audits, rebates, incentives, and services to the San Rafael community.
- Utilize the City's website, newsletters, social media, bill inserts, public service announcements and advertisements, recognition programs, and other forms of public outreach.
- Create stories and “shareable content” that can be used by bloggers, businesses, non-profits, social media, and traditional media.
- Use creative methods to engage the public, such as games, giveaways, prizes, contests, simple surveys, digital tools, and “pop-up” events.
- Develop pilot programs using community-based social marketing and other social science-based techniques to effect behavior change.
- Participate in countywide outreach and education efforts, such as Drawdown Marin.
Advocate at the state and federal levels for policies and actions that support the rapid transition to GHG-free energy sources, electrification of buildings and the transportation fleet, and other impactful measures to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Convene an economic development and innovation working group to explore public-private partnerships and develop ways to decarbonize our local economy while spurring sustainable enterprise and equitable employment.
Encourage local businesses to participate in the Marin County Green Business Program through partnerships with the County, Chamber, and other business groups.