EXISTING CONDITIONS

As a first step in the sustainability planning process, in 2022 the County conducted a review of existing environmental programs, sustainability goals, and plans and policies that are currently in place. The intention of this is to establish a baseline from which future progress can be measured and to integrate established environmental targets and sustainability goals. View the Existing Conditions Report here.

ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES

The 2021 Sustainability Plan Implementation Strategies are intended to guide County decisionmakers, stakeholders and members of the community in prioritizing new and existing policies and programs to advance the County’s sustainability goals. High-level descriptions of each of the sustainability strategies are listed below and organized by the eight Sustainability Elements.

Ecological Health

The ecological Health Sustainability Element focuses on protecting biological diversity and habitat, and enhancing the benefits provide by a healthy ecosystem. Recommended strategies are to:

Update the Climate Action Plan to protect people ecosystems, community assets, and resources from the anticipated effects of climate change in an equitable and inclusive public process that includes indigenous, vulnerable, marginalized, and underserved communities;
Protect open space and biological resources through conservation and restoration;
Prioritize nature-based solutions; and
Increase carbon sequestration.

Water

Air Quality

The Air Quality Sustainability Element is intended to improve air quality in the County, with a focus on low-income communities that tend to bar a disproportionate pollution burden. Recommended strategies are to:

Reduce VMT;
Increase tree planting to improve air quality and combat urban heat island effect; and
Prepare for increased risk of wildfire and impacts on air quality.

Buildings

Waste

Local Food

Agriculture

The preservation of Yolo County’s rich agricultural history and sector are front and center in the County’s plans, policies, and programs. The Agriculture Sustainability Element supports existing goals to preserve agriculture and bolster the agricultural economy, but also seeks to increase carbon sequestration through cutting-edge agricultural practices and look ahead to how climate change may impact the agricultural sector. The recommended strategies are:

Preserve Yolo’s agricultural land and ensure a strong local agricultural economy;
Increase carbon sequestration; and
Increase resilience of agricultural sector to climate change.

Education

The Education Sustainability Element intersects with each of the other seven elements in that success in those areas in part rely on behavior change and adoption by County residents. Recommended strategies are to:

Raise public awareness of sustainability topics and the public’s role in furthering the County’s sustainability goals;
Incorporate sustainability topics into educational curriculum.