Climate Action Research for Palm Springs, CA

Last updated August 2025

📍 1. City Information

City: Palm Springs, CA (Riverside County)

Population: 45,218 as of July 1, 2023 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/palmspringscitycalifornia/PST045223

Geographic Region (e.g., coastal, desert, forest, urban): Desert

🏢 2. Sustainability or Climate Office

Does the city have a dedicated sustainability office or staff person? Yes

Department of Sustainability and Recycling

Staff: Lindsey-Paige McCloy, Director

Email/Contact Info: recycling@palmspringsca.gov

Website: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/services/sustainability-and-recycling

♻️ 3. Sustainability Committee

This commission advises the City Council on climate-related issues, sustainability, and environmental initiatives. It focuses on areas such as renewable energy, waste management, and water conservation.

📢 Public Meeting: third Tuesday of the month at 5.30pm

Agenda: https://publicportal.palmspringsca.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=1400336&dbid=0&repo=CityHall-Primary

How to attend public meetings: in person at City Hall or via Zoom (request Zoom link in advance from Benito Villa at benito.villa@palmspringsca. gov or 760-322-8312 ext 2)

3.1 Sustainability Subcommittee Climate Action

📢 Public Meeting: second Wednesday of the month at 1pm

Agenda: https://publicportal.palmspringsca.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=1410560&dbid=0&repo=CityHall-Primary

How to attend public meetings: in person at City Hall or via Zoom (request Zoom link in advance from Christian Wheeler at christian. wheeler@palmspringsca. gov or 760-323-8236)

3.2 Sustainability Subcommittee Waste Reduction

📢 Public Meeting: first Tuesday of the month at 1pm

Agenda: https://publicportal.palmspringsca.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=1410793&dbid=0&repo=CityHall-Primary

How to attend public meetings: in person at City Hall or via Zoom (request Zoom link in advance from Lindsey-Paige McCloy at lindseypaige.mccloy@palmspringsca.gov or 760-323-8214)

📘 4. Climate Action Plan

Does the city have a current Climate Action Plan (or similar)? Yes

Palm Springs Climate Action Roadmap (year adopted: October 2021)

Lead Department or Agency: Department of Sustainability and Recycling

Link to sustainability policies and ordinances: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/services/sustainability-and-recycling/plans-publications

Link to Climate Action Plan document: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/82060/637859794824230000

Goals and benchmarks:

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% compared to 1990 levels by the end of 2030.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% compared to 1990 levels by the end of 2050.
Achieve carbon neutrality for municipal emissions by 2030.

Are there any updates to the plan? No (as of August 2025)

🌴 5. Local Climate Policies and Ordinances

5.1 Current climate issues discussed by the Department of Sustainability and Recycling

Energy-Efficient Upgrade Ordinance – currently on pause pending outcome of AB 306 – Building regulations: state building standards.

Requires energy efficiency upgrades for homes built before 2011, focusing on cost-effective improvements like insulation and LED lighting. Exemptions apply for homes with existing solar panels and low-income residents receiving utility rate discounts.

Tree Ordinance – under consideration

An ordinance under consideration would mandate replacing trees 12 inches or larger in diameter with two new trees, working through the city’s existing planning department landscape process.

Caltrans Heat and Shade Study – impact study on increasing community temperatures in the next 30 years.

The Palm Springs Comprehensive Shade and Heat Mitigation Plan will develop sustainable, climate-resilient transportation strategies to address extreme heat in the Coachella Valley. The plan will identify adaptive infrastructure solutions, reduce GHG emissions, and build community resilience, with key deliverables including stakeholder engagement (focused on underserved populations), a heat and shade equity study, impact assessments, and designs for climate-appropriate shade and landscaping. It aligns with local, regional, and state climate action goals, including the State Climate Action Plan and the Riverside County 2019 Climate Action Plan.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction – GHG Inventory

Track number of houses with solar panels, registered electric vehicles, EV driver charging habits, and explore EV rideshare programs for disadvantaged areas.

5.2 Recent climate-related ordinances or policies

2022-2025: Food Recovery & Organic Waste Disposal (SB 1383)

Food Recovery: Came into effect on January 1, 2022 to reduce food waste and address food insecurity. California requires jurisdictions to establish food recovery programs, mandates food donors to recover surplus edible food, with a goal of recovering 20% of edible food that would otherwise be sent to landfills, to feed people in need by 2025.

The law phased food donors under two tiers. The first tier (grocery stores, wholesale food vendors, etc.) is required to donate starting in 2022. The second tier (hotels, restaurants, large venues, events, etc.) is required to donate starting in 2024.

Palm Springs Ordinance: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/edible-food-recovery

Organic Waste Disposal: Since fall 2022, residents and businesses must separate food and yard waste into green bins to reduce methane emissions from landfills—a major contributor to climate change—and turn organic waste into compost.

Palm Springs Ordinance: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/services/sustainability-and-recycling/recycling-waste-management/residential-green-waste#

Further information on SB 1383 at CalRecycle: https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/foodrecovery/

2022/2023: Foodware and Single-use Plastic Waste Reduction Program (Ord. 2045)

Food vendors must use reusable items for onsite dining – went into effect January 1, 2022.

All disposable food ware and accessories must be made of fiber-based compostable material – went into effect January 1, 2023.

Ordinance: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/80533/637710103653630000

Flyer: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/80590/637716223714770000

2019: Leaf Blower Ordinance (Ord. 1932)

Bans gas-powered leaf blowers to reduce noise and air pollution – went into effect January 1, 2019.

https://www.palmspringsca.gov/services/sustainability-and-recycling/leaf-blower-ordinance-effective-2019#

🌵 6. Community Programs for Resilience and Climate Adaptation

6.1 Rebates

https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/sustainability-and-recycling/rebates-resources

E-Bike Voucher Program
Home Clean Energy assistance program – https://incentives.switchison.org/residents/incentives?state=CA
Energy efficiency rebates through DCE and SCE
Turf Conversion rebate program – https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/sustainability-and-recycling/environment/turf-conversion

Also check on Turf Conversion rebate and Water programs

6.5 Increasing Tree Canopy

https://insights.sustainability.google/places/ChIJs-Xb_9Qa24ARfHntwodp5aE/trees