The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 6 unanimously adopted the OurCounty Sustainability Plan, the most comprehensive regional approach to sustainability issued by a county in the United States.

The plan, drafted over the course of two years with the help of nearly 1,000 community and expert stakeholders, sets forth an ambitious agenda to transform the region in the years and decades ahead. Recognizing the urgency of existing regional challenges and the climate crisis, the plan aims to uphold the Paris Climate Agreement by creating a fossil-fuel free Los Angeles County within the next three decades. It includes nearly 160 health-focused strategies centering on communities that have been disproportionately affected by environmental pollution.

“At its heart, this plan is both a call to action and a commitment to future generations,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, 3rd District, who, with Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, 1st District, sponsored the motion to create the county’s Chief Sustainability Office, which led to development of the plan. “This is our unequivocal statement that climate change is real, and that our county will not stand around waiting for the federal government to wake up and create the policies and programs needed to address it. By taking this leadership role, we are positioning the county to move our region into a greener future and advance the effort to reverse global warming.”

The OurCounty plan is unique in its regional focus in confronting environmental, social and economic challenges. The plan’s goals and milestones include powering unincorporated areas and county facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2025; increasing urban tree canopy coverage by 15% by 2035; diverting more than 95% of waste from landfills; developing land-use tools to limit new development in high climate-hazard areas; and phasing out single-use plastic by 2025. It also includes cutting back on imported water by sourcing 80 percent of water locally by 2045; ensuring all residents have safe and clean drinking water, and that rivers, lakes and the ocean meet federal water quality standards; leading efforts to make sure that at least 65% of new housing is built within a half-mile of public transit by 2035; and supporting construction of more than half a million affordable housing units by 2045. The county plans to partner with cities and residents to reach the goals.

“Our future depends not just on the county’s actions, but also on the 88 cities of Los Angeles County stepping up to the plate to collectively help achieve the strategic plan’s vision for sustainability,” said Chief Executive Officer Sachi A. Hamai. “We look forward to building and growing these partnerships as we work toward common goals on behalf of all the communities we serve.”

The county’s Chief Sustainability Office is charged with overseeing implementation of the plan and will report annually on progress. For information, visit ourcountyla.org.