Monterey County opens 60‑day public comment on draft climate action and adaptation plan

Monterey County opened a 60‑day public comment period on its draft Community Climate Action and Adaptation Plan at a June 10 news briefing, county Sustainability Manager Kora Panterat said. "Our climate action adaptation plan really is a roadmap for how the county is going to reduce greenhouse‑gas emissions and tackle climate change," Panterat said.

The plan bundles emissions inventories, reduction targets and adaptation measures. Panterat presented the county’s 2019 community greenhouse‑gas inventory, identifying on‑road transportation, agriculture (primarily fertilizer use) and buildings as the top three sectors. County modeling told briefing participants that without local action the county will not meet statutorily mandated climate goals; with the plan’s actions, Panterat said, the county can meet the 2030 and 2040 targets set under SB1279.

Panterat described sector‑specific approaches the CAP promotes: reducing vehicle miles traveled by expanding transit and active‑transportation options; working with farmers on fertilizer‑use reductions and carbon‑sequestration pilot programs; and supporting building electrification and efficiency through incentives and financing tools such as green‑bank programs to address affordability concerns.

The county is inviting community feedback through August 9. Residents can comment directly on the public engagement platform (Conveyo), which hosts the plan PDF in English and Spanish and does not require an account, or they may email comments to climate@countyofmonterey.gov if they prefer not to use the online tool. Panterat said staff will compile all submissions into the public record used to finalize the plan.

County officials emphasized coordination with regional transportation partners — including Monterey‑Salinas Transit and the Transportation Authority for Monterey County — to rebalance routes, increase frequency and prioritize street‑safety improvements so residents have viable non‑driving options.

The county noted the CAP project has been in development since 2021 and that the modeled policy and program measures in the draft are intended to enable compliance with state goals by 2030 and 2040. The public comment portal and documents are available through August 9, 2026; staff will review submissions and incorporate public input as specified in the plan’s outreach materials.