New climate roadmap expands on Green New Deal
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has unveiled a sweeping new Climate Action Plan aimed at accelerating the city’s response to global warming. The strategy sets ambitious targets, including doubling local solar power by 2030 and reaching 100% renewable energy by 2035.
Speaking at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, Bass said the plan is designed to deliver measurable progress. “The decisions that we make today will shape this city for generations to come,” she said.
The initiative builds on the 2019 Green New Deal adopted under former Mayor Eric Garcetti but introduces clearer benchmarks. The plan outlines 14 objectives and more than 50 actions intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand green infrastructure and strengthen climate resilience.
Electric buses, EV chargers and airport reforms
Among the headline goals is converting all L.A. Department of Transportation buses to electric by 2028 and installing 120,000 electric vehicle chargers by 2030. The plan also targets emissions reductions at the Port of Los Angeles and LAX, including increasing sustainable aviation fuel use by 28% by 2030.
City officials intend to prohibit new oil and gas drilling this year while establishing a process to phase out existing extraction operations.
Deputy Mayor Nancy Sutley emphasized that electrification must be paired with clean power generation. “If you drive an electric vehicle, you want the electricity that powers the car to be clean,” she said, noting the city’s push toward carbon-free energy at the Department of Water and Power.
Water recycling and local supply targets
The mayor highlighted a major expansion of the L.A. Groundwater Replenishment Project, which will convert wastewater into up to 45 million gallons of purified drinking water per day, serving roughly 500,000 residents. The $1-billion facility is scheduled to begin operations before the 2028 Olympics.
The plan calls for Los Angeles to become 70% locally water-reliant by 2035 and reduce average per-person water use by 25% over the same period.
Parks, trees and heat protection
Recognizing the growing risks of extreme heat, the strategy includes establishing five new parks by 2030 and 10 by 2035, while significantly expanding the city’s tree canopy. Officials say nature-based solutions will help cool neighborhoods and restore habitat.
The city also aims to phase out single-use plastics by 2032, expand composting programs and make the 2028 Olympics a model for sustainable large-scale events.
Funding and next steps
The mayor’s proposed budget includes $841 million in climate-related spending. While the plan itself is not legally binding, city departments will be tasked with implementing its objectives, and the City Council may adopt certain measures into formal policy.
Los Angeles has set a broader goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045. City leaders say the updated roadmap positions L.A. as a national model for urban climate action while addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities.