By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors yesterday adopted the 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan, a regional roadmap including 179 action items to enhance the well-being and foster greater resilience in every L.A. County community.
The 2025 OurCounty Plan builds upon the original 2019 blueprint, which set forth 12 overarching sustainability goals for the region, grounded in the co-equal values of environment, equity, and economy. More than half of the action items in the original Plan have been achieved or are on track to be completed by the target dates.
“Since the adoption of the County’s original sustainability plan in 2019, Los Angeles County has navigated unprecedented challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to catastrophic wildfires that have tested the strength of our infrastructure and communities,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger (R-Palmdale, Lancaster, Santa Clarita, San Marino, Pasadena, La Cañada-Flintridge, portions of the San Gabriel Valley).
“The 2025 Plan builds on those lessons to advance a more resilient and forward-looking framework. I support its prioritization of prevention and long-term preparedness. It’s important, as a County, to reaffirm our commitment to rebuild stronger and safeguard both our residents and natural resources.”
Some of the County’s notable achievements since 2019, are:
- Adoption of an ordinance to phase out oil/gas extraction in unincorporated L.A.
- County Development of more than 110 acres of new parkland in unincorporated areas
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from County operations by over 40% since 2009
- Installation of 1,500 EV chargers at County facilities and expansion of the electric/hybrid County fleet
- Investment of nearly $1 billion in multi-benefit stormwater capture projects
New and expanded focus areas in the 2025 Plan include:
- Wildfire Risk Management: Implementing the Community Wildfire Protection Ordinance, updating climate-informed building codes, advocating for equitable insurance practices, and enhancing ecosystems to reduce wildfire risk and improve recovery.
- Community Resilience: Expanding battery storage systems and microgrids at County facilities, identifying community spaces for potential resilience hubs, and co-creating resilience training and programming with local organizations.
- Tribal and Indigenous Partnership: Establishing an Office of Tribal Affairs, supporting Indigenous and stewardship models, and embedding traditional ecological knowledge into climate adaptation and resilience planning.
- Ocean and Marine Systems: Promoting sustainable aquaculture, piloting solutions to reduce nutrient pollution and ocean acidification, restoring coastal and marine habitats, and developing a regional coastal resilience strategy.
- Green Goods Movement: Transitioning to zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, implementing the Truck Route Master Plan, and investing in electrified rail infrastructure to reduce freight emissions and improve air quality.
- Green Economy: Identifying priority growth sectors through a Green Economy Study, expanding equitable workforce development programming, supporting ethical AI innovation, and strengthening small business ecosystems to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
- Resource Circularity: Increasing use of sustainable building materials in County projects, support for local upcycling and recycling markets, repurposing salvaged materials for public art, and a comprehensive inventory of local reuse, repair, and material recovery services.
“The updated OurCounty Plan lays out a brave path for policymakers and residents alike,” said Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath. “This type of innovation and ambitious goal-setting is critical, especially as federal decision-makers continue to weaken environmental protections and dismantle climate-resilience initiatives. Los Angeles County must continue to lead the way.”
