Biking and riding Muni are two climate-friendly ways to get around San Francisco.
San Francisco has released the latest version of its Climate Action Plan. This is the first time the city’s climate plan has been updated in five years, and, as in years past, transportation is a major focus of our climate action efforts.
Let’s start with the good news. From 1990 to 2022, San Francisco cut climate pollution by almost half. That’s an incredible achievement. And it happened during a time when the city’s population and economy were growing.
Emissions from the transportation sector also decreased since 1990 — by 29%. But there’s still a lot of work to do. Transportation continues to be San Francisco’s and the nation’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.
About two-thirds of those emissions are generated by privately owned cars and trucks. So, every time you ride Muni instead of driving, you help reduce emissions. The same goes for any time you walk, bike or use a scooter to get around. San Franciscans’ shift to electric cars also makes a difference.
But we’re going to have to keep it up to reach San Francisco’s climate action goals.
San Francisco’s climate action goals
San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan has helped keep the city clean and green.
San Francisco is a pioneer in the fight against climate change and has brought together more than a dozen city departments to work together to achieve our bold climate action goals.
- The overall goal is to reduce the city’s emissions 61% from 1990 levels by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
- We have two main transportation goals:
- Reduce vehicle miles traveled by cars and trucks by 25% from 2019 levels by 2030 and by 30% by 2040
- Increase the percentage of cars and small trucks in San Francisco that are zero-emission to 25% by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
Cities like San Francisco are making a major difference in the fight against climate change. About 70% of global climate emissions are generated in cities. And cities have joined together to take actions that will reduce emissions even during times when their national governments aren’t doing the same.
Transportation sector emissions
The latest data available on San Francisco climate emissions is from 2022. At that time, the transportation sector was responsible for 45% of the city’s climate emissions, followed closely by energy use in buildings, which was responsible for 44% of the city’s emissions. Here is the breakdown of transportation sector emissions:
- 66% of emissions are generated from on-road vehicle gasoline consumption
- 24% of emissions are generated from maritime ship diesel consumption
- 8% of emissions are generated from off-road equipment fuel consumption
- 2% of emissions are generated from diesel, renewable diesel, and electricity use by public transportation. The public transportation agencies included are ferries, BART, Muni, Caltrain and Golden Gate Transit. Muni is responsible for only a tiny fraction of these emissions.
What the city is doing
San Francisco released its new Climate Action Plan on April 16.
San Francisco is taking a two-pronged approach to reduce transportation emissions. We are encouraging the use of public transit, walking and biking. We are also enabling the shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles powered by renewable energy.
The Climate Action Plan lays out several strategies to reduce transportation emissions. These strategies also can cut air pollution.
Strategy 1: Maintain and expand San Francisco’s fast, reliable transit system so it is the preferred way to get around the city.
Strategy 2: Ensure zero-carbon mobility choices are safe, viable and inviting.
Strategy 3: Accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for remaining vehicular trips.
Strategy 4: Integrate transportation planning and project delivery with land use, housing, public facilities and economic development efforts to ensure coordinated and accessible travel options.
We should note that these strategies depend on the city generating enough new funding for Muni so that we won’t be forced to cut back service. If we have to cut Muni service, it will mean more cars on the road, more traffic and more emissions and pollution.
What you can do
If you are concerned about climate change, transportation is where you can make a big difference. Whenever you decide to take a trip by walking, biking or transit rather than by car, it benefits everyone and our planet’s health.
Here are five specific suggestions:
- Plan out your commute by public transit. Challenge yourself to travel by bus or train at least once a week. Make the journey by bus, metro, ferry or train part of a weekend outing.
- If you’re already a regular Muni rider, spread the word with your friends and family that Muni is fast, frequent, reliable, clean and safe. Riders just gave us their highest satisfaction ratings yet.
- Don’t own a bike or scooter? Take a test ride with shared bikes, e-bikes or shared scooters.
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Share a ride the next time you go out with friends.
To learn more, read San Francisco’s new Climate Action Plan.