Our commitment to the environment informs all of our policy making.

 

Climate change, pollution, drought, and environmental disparities are issues that affect us all, both locally and globally. For decades, Berkeley has been at the forefront of environmental ingenuity. Under the Mayor’s leadership, Berkeley continues to push forward climate action at a critical moment as the world approaches 1.5C warming. Learn more by reading Berkeley’s Climate Action Plan.

Buildings

Berkeley was the first city in the country to allow homeowners to pay for solar power installation and energy efficient improvements as a voluntary long-term assessment on their property taxes.

Berkeley was the first city in the country to allow homeowners to pay for solar power installation and energy efficient improvements as a voluntary long-term assessment on their property taxes.

100% Renewable Electricity

In 2018, Berkeley joined East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), which gives residents an alternative to PG&E that provides greener electricity. Additionally, EBCE incentivizes and promotes local distributed energy generation so that our diverse communities can benefit from the rapid transition to renewables. In 2022, all residential and commercial accounts in Berkeley switched to the Renewable 100 service, which provides 100% of electricity from wind and solar sources.

Electrification

Natural gas accounts for 32% of Berkeley’s greenhouse gas emissions and a majority of emissions from buildings. In 2019, Berkeley made history be becoming the first city in the nation to ban natural gas in new construction, a policy that many other jurisdictions are now adopting. In 2021, the Council approved the Berkeley Existing Buildings Electrification Strategy, which provides the framework to transition existing buildings from natural gas to electric, with the entire city becoming natural gas-free by 2045 or earlier.

Deep Green Building Initiative

One of the first major pieces of legislation introduced as Mayor was the Deep Green Building Initiative, which addresses a variety of recommendations for new and remodeled residential developments including achieving zero net energy or greater for buildings. The Deep Green Building Initiative builds on the work of our Climate Action Plan and the Berkeley Energy Savings Ordinance (BESO), creating an incentive-based program to move Berkeley buildings towards zero net energy, ahead of the state.

Transportation

In 2018, Berkeley joined a 7,000 bike regional bike share network including Oakland, Emeryville, San Francisco and San Jose. The Bay Area’s network is one of the largest and densest bike share systems in North America.

In 2018, Berkeley joined a 7,000 bike regional bike share network including Oakland, Emeryville, San Francisco and San Jose. The Bay Area’s network is one of the largest and densest bike share systems in North America.

Micromobility

One in ten Berkeley residents bike to work, the highest share of bike commuters of any city our size, and we're working to make biking even more accessible. In 2018, Berkeley launched a bike sharing system that has 38 stations with over 400 bikes. This is part of a regional network that has 7,000 bikes total. In 2021, the Micromobility Permit Program was established, with hundreds of bike and electric scooters available for trips in Berkeley.

 

Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Vehicles

Transportation accounts for a majority of Berkeley’s greenhouse gas emissions (60% in 2019). Council adopted the Berkeley Electric Mobility Roadmap in 2020, which builds upon the work to increase alternative forms of transportation to ultimately create a fossil fuel-free transportation system. The City’s fleet of vehicles is being converted to electric, which should be completed by 2030. 200 publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are now available in Berkeley and rising. EV charging stations are also now required in parking spaces in new construction.

Zero Waste

Karl Linn Community Garden is one of dozens of city-subsidized community gardens where residents can grow food.

Karl Linn Community Garden is one of dozens of city-subsidized community gardens where residents can grow food.

Recycling/Compost

Berkeley launched its groundbreaking curbside recycling program in 1973. Since 2013, the city has expanded its recycling program to accept all clean, rigid plastic containers. As of 2014, all businesses are required to have recycling collection for basic recyclable materials, and restaurants and markets are required to have organics collection for food scraps, food soiled paper and plant debris. Berkeley's Zero Waste Commission is developing ways to reduce how much waste goes to landfills, with the goal of eventually eliminating or diverting it altogether.


Single Use Foodware

In 2019, the much acclaimed Single Use Foodware and Litter Reduction Ordinance was approved, helping businesses shift away from environmentally harmful single use disposable foodware and toward reusable foodware.

Climate Equity

Climate Equity Fund

In 2021, the Council voted on establishing the Climate Equity Fund, established to fund various pilot programs for low-income households at 50% Area Median Income or less. In 2022, pilot programs that cover three program areas were established. The programs are as follows:

  • Resilient Home Retrofits: Decarbonization improvements that enhance resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Electric Mobility Access: An e-bike loan program that provided 56 households e-bike rentals, related equipment, and training. The lottery, which has over 600 applicants, is now closed, and bikes are being distributed throughout Spring 2023.

  • Community Access to Resilience Measures and Electrification Engagement: The Ecology Center will conduct engagement of low-income residents and provide resources for resilience.