Putting Action in Climate Action Plans: How Equity-Centered Goals are Implemented in California Cities

Abstract

As climate change accelerates, municipalities are adopting aggressive climate change policies to facilitate transitions to a more resilient future. However, addressing inequities in the treatment of politically, economically, and socially marginalized communities is necessary for transformational changes in combating climate change and advancing sustainability, as they are the most vulnerable to climate change. Although California cities are increasingly including equity-centered language and goals in their Climate Action Plans (CAPs), the actual implementation of these commitments remains largely unexamined, and it is unclear if the equity promises are merely lip service. This thesis research aims to help fill the gap by developing a policy evaluation framework to examine (1) whether California cities with equity goals in their CAPs have established effective implementation strategies, (2) what these implementation strategies entail, and (3) what factors differentiate the cities that are doing more to implement their equity goals. The study employs interviews, document analysis, qualitative comparative analysis, and statistical analysis to uncover why certain cities are more successful than others in implementing the equity actions and goals specified in CAPs. Integrating social equity-focused initiatives in climate planning actions not only enhances the implementation of climate mitigation and adaptation strategies but also boosts the likelihood of marginalized communities actively engaging in these efforts. The findings provide crucial recommendations for cities as they develop and update CAPs and allocate resources to bridge the gap between equity-oriented ambitions and the effective and equitable outcomes. Specifically, policy stakeholders should prioritize setting measurable equity targets with dedicated funding, improving administrative capacity to implement and scale up well-planned equity-centered projects. In addition, extensive community input creates the relationships and insights needed for equity-centered climate mitigation and adaptation measures.