San Francisco Aims Net-Zero Emissions By 2040

San Francisco has set a new city goal: reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 under an updated Climate Action Plan released April 16. (sf.gov) Mayor Daniel Lurie released the plan during San Francisco Climate Week and signed legislation to align the city’s official climate targets with it. City officials described it as the first update to the plan in five years. (sf.gov) The roadmap keeps a near-term target too: cut emissions 61% below 1990 levels by 2030, then get to net-zero by 2040. The city’s climate dashboard says San Francisco had already reduced emissions 48% from 1990 levels as of last year’s reporting. (sfenvironment.org, sfenvironment.org) The plan is built around sectors that drive most city emissions: energy supply, building operations, transportation, housing and land use, circular economy, healthy ecosystems, and water supply. It pairs pollution cuts with goals on affordability, public health, and resilience. (sfclimateplan.org, sf.gov) For buildings, the city says it wants to decarbonize about 18,000 buildings by 2030 and make all buildings zero-emission by 2040 by replacing fossil-fuel equipment with electric alternatives. For electricity, the plan says San Francisco should move citywide energy use to 100% clean sources by 2040. (sfenvironment.org) Transportation gets some of the biggest numeric targets. The plan calls for cutting vehicle miles traveled 25% from 2019 levels by 2030, making 25% of cars and small trucks zero-emission by 2030, and reaching 100% for those vehicles by 2040. (sfenvironment.org) Housing is part of the climate strategy too. The plan links lower-emissions growth to planning 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) City officials said the updated plan is meant to lower household costs as residents switch to cleaner power, appliances, and transportation. The city also framed the package as a public-health measure, tying fewer combustion emissions to cleaner air. (mercurynews.com, sf.gov) San Francisco has been updating climate policy as California cities face pressure to cut emissions faster while adapting to heat, drought, flooding, and wildfire smoke. The city’s environment department says the 2026 plan builds on its 2021 Climate Action Plan and a 2023 progress report tracking implementation and emissions trends. (sfenvironment.org, sfclimateplan.org) What comes next is less about a single vote than execution across departments, buildings, streets, and utilities. The city has now put dates and numbers on the table: 61% below 1990 levels by 2030, and net-zero by 2040. (sfenvironment.org, sf.gov)