San Francisco Targets Net-Zero by 2040

San Francisco has set a new citywide goal: reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. (sfenvironment.org) Mayor Daniel Lurie released the updated Climate Action Plan on April 16, 2026, and signed legislation the same day to align the city’s official climate targets with the new roadmap. City officials described it as the first full update in five years. (sf.gov) The plan sets an interim target too: cut emissions 61% below 1990 levels by 2030. It organizes the work across energy, buildings, transportation, waste, water, housing, and urban nature. (sfenvironment.org) For buildings, the city says it will cut emissions 20% from 2020 levels by 2030 by decarbonizing about 18,000 buildings. By 2040, the plan says all buildings should be zero-emission. (sfenvironment.org) For transportation, the plan calls for a 25% cut in vehicle miles traveled from 2019 levels by 2030 and a 30% cut by 2040. It also targets zero-emission vehicles for 25% of cars and small trucks by 2030 and 100% by 2040. (sfenvironment.org) On electricity, San Francisco says it already offers 100% clean electricity and wants everyone using 100% clean electricity by 2030. By 2040, the plan calls for all energy uses citywide to run on clean energy. (sfenvironment.org) The city is pairing the climate targets with housing and land-use goals. The plan calls for 82,000 new housing units by 2030, including at least 36,000 in well-resourced neighborhoods, with an emphasis on affordability and transit-oriented development. (sfenvironment.org) San Francisco says it has already cut citywide emissions 48% since 1990 while population grew 21% and the local economy grew 199%. Officials are using that record to argue the next round of cuts can happen alongside new housing, lower energy use, and cleaner transportation. (sfenvironment.org) The updated plan also adds deadlines outside the usual power-and-cars debate: cut solid waste generation 15% from 2015 levels by 2030, reduce landfill disposal 50%, and plant 30,000 more trees by 2040 for a total of 155,000 street trees. (sfenvironment.org) City leaders rolled out the plan during San Francisco Climate Week and cast it as a local implementation agenda, not just a statement of intent. The next test is whether the city can turn those dated targets into building upgrades, cleaner trips, and measurable emissions cuts before 2030. (sf.gov)