The City of Los Angeles revealed bold new sustainability goals in its 2019 Sustainable City pLAn, released April 29, 2019. Branded “LA’s Green New Deal”, the plan is a four-year update to the City’s first-ever sustainability plan, released in 2015.

The 2019 plan proposes accelerating renewable energy and local water targets that were outlined in the 2015 version. New targets include transitioning the City of Los Angeles to 100% renewable energy by 2045 and 70% local water by 2035.

Other notable sustainability targets were proposed in the transportation and building sectors. The plan envisions a dramatic expansion of zero-emissions vehicles – 25% by 2025 – and an expansion of the public transportation system. According to building targets outlined in the plan, all new Los Angeles buildings will be zero carbon by 2030 and all buildings will be zero carbon by 2050.

UCLA has been working together with the City to ensure that these goals are informed by research. The local water goal was directly influenced by UCLA-led research which showed that transitioning the City to up to 100% local water is possible, environmentally superior to importing water, and cost effective. The commitment of the City to go from roughly 10% local water to 70% local water in 16 years is truly transformational. Other UCLA research in the areas of climate science, transportation, and biodiversity has also been influential in shaping the City’s goals. These new goals will move the needle on the UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge goals of transitioning Los Angeles County to 100% renewable energy, 100% local water, and enhanced ecosystem health by 2050.

Read more at the Los Angeles Times.