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Section 1. Introduction | 10Pleasanton Climate Action Plan 2.0 Section 1. Introduction Pleasanton rests in the scenic and economically important Tri-Valley area of Alameda County in California, north of San Jose and east of San Francisco. The nearly 80,000 residents of this diverse community enjoy warm summers and mild winters.1 Pleasanton is a prosperous city full of opportunity and innovation and serves as the home headquarters of many businesses, including Safeway, Workday, and 10x Genomics. The city has an active art scene, with several galleries and theaters that host events throughout the year. Pleasanton values open space, and it has more than 40 community parks, nearly 150 miles of bike paths, bike lanes, and trails, and 700 acres of undeveloped open space for hikers, cyclists, and equestrians to play.2 Thanks to these integrated economic, cultural, and community development successes, Pleasanton has been 1 See the 2020 Decennial US Census. 2 See the City of Pleasanton’s Parks & Trails webpage and Trails Master Plan for more information on the City’s park and trail system. 3 IPCC. (2021). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Available at www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-i/ (accessed 8/31/2021). ranked one of the wealthiest middle-sized cities in the United States by the Census Bureau, and it was ranked 4th in USA Today’s list of “America’s 50 best cities to live” in 2014. The City of Pleasanton has already begun its climate action work, having completed its first greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory in 2007 and its first climate action plan (CAP 1.0) in 2012. Pleasanton surpassed the CAP 1.0 target of reducing emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020, ahead of schedule. Since then, extreme heat, water uncertainty, wildfire smoke, and flooding have become more frequent and intense, putting vital systems at risk. In recognition of escalating climate threats and the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, this climate action plan update (CAP 2.0) reaffirms Pleasanton’s commitment to help slow climate change.3 As Pleasanton continues to grow and thrive, the City needs new strategies to balance economic growth and technological innovation—and maintain the community’s culture— without depleting natural resources and compromising the quality of life of current and future generations. Collectively, the City and community must reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building resilience to climate change within our community to maintain a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable home, now and for decades to come. Local climate action planning is a vital and effective tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the City is committed to achieving its climate goals through evidence-based, equitable, and accountable leadership. Pleasanton surpassed the CAP 1.0 target of reducing emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020 ahead of schedule.