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Public Input Sought for Climate MAP Workshop

Thursday, 17 November 2011

The Port of San Diego is seeking the public's participation in an interactive workshop on climate change and its potential impacts on San Diego Bay.

As an environmental steward of San Diego Bay, the Port of San Diego is developing a Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (Climate MAP) to identify strategies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help identify areas around the bay that may be threatened by impacts of climate change.

The workshop, set for Thursday, December 1, is another opportunity for the public to voice their thoughts on the plan.

• Learn more about the Climate MAP
•  Mitigation Measures Draft 12-1-11 (94.89 kB)
•  Meeting Agenda Climate MAP 12-1-11 (926.01 kB)

The workshop will be held at the Port of San Diego's Administration Building, 3165 Pacific Highway, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

"The goal of the Climate MAP is to help the Port of San Diego identify, assess, and develop strategies that will address local vulnerabilities to climate change," said Board of Port Commissioners Scott Peters. "Planning for changes now will allow us to better manage our risks and property in the future."

At the workshop, Port of San Diego staff will provide an update on the development of the plan, present options for greenhouse gas mitigation measures, and seek public input on prioritizing the measures.

The Climate MAP will be a critical tool for future planning and development of Port District lands and will focus on a variety of strategies pertaining to sea level rise, energy efficiency and fuel consumption. The plan will also help to streamline environmental review of future projects.

Future public meetings will provide additional opportunities for input prior to the Board of Port Commissioners adopting the plan.

A draft Climate MAP is expected to be completed by March 2012, and a final Climate MAP should be in place by summer 2012.

The Port of San Diego has jurisdiction over 3,415 acres of land surrounding San Diego Bay. That land includes portions of the port's five member cities of Imperial Beach, San Diego, Coronado, Chula Vista and National City.

In developing the plan, the Port District has reached out to its member cities and the San Diego Port Tenants Association to assist in assessment and planning activities.

Other stakeholders include the Environmental Health Coalition, the San Diego Foundation, San Diego State University and the University of San Diego Energy Policy Initiatives Center.

The Port of San Diego was created by state legislature in 1962 and is responsible for $1.7 billion in public improvements in its five member cities.

The Port District oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 17 public parks, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.