Sustaining Our Future – We’re on a Mission to
Reduce Emissions 80%
| | Palo Alto is making big strides toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. Together, we are on a path to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and protect our quality of life. Sustaining Our Future means that, taken together, all elements of our Sustainability and Climate Action Plan strive to support Palo Alto’s future through sustainability and climate action changes. In this community update, learn about how we’re focusing on the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and how you can join our community progress. | | Welcome to the 2026-2027 Youth Climate Advisory Board | | Congratulations to the thirteen high school students who were selected for this Youth Climate Advisory Board! The Board members bring a wide range of experiences, interests and perspectives in sustainability and climate action that will help inform their work with the City and local schools. Join us in welcoming the 2026-2027 Youth Climate Advisory Board. | | Limited Time! Save $500 on a Heat Pump Water Heater | | South Palo Alto Bike/Pedestrian Rail Crossings Project | | The South Palo Alto Bike/Ped Connectivity project is exploring options for a new grade-separated bicycle and pedestrian pathway across the Caltrain corridor. This directly supports the City's mission to reduce emissions by 80% by promoting active transportation to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Earlier this year, the City Council selected the El Dorado Avenue option for further planning and design. On August 27, the City hosted a workshop to gain community feedback on the El Dorado Avenue design, and is working to incorporate what we heard into the next steps. This fall, staff will share progress and gain feedback from City advisory bodies and City Council to help inform the next phase of the project. Join the conversation and learn more about how to share input. | | Pedal & Path Forward: City Council Adopts the 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan | | | | On June 15, 2026, the City Council adopted the 2026 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan (BPTP), marking an important milestone toward improving walking and biking in Palo Alto. The updated plan provides a framework for creating a safer and low-stress bicycle and pedestrian network, prioritizing neighborhood-based Bicycle Boulevards to make walking and biking more practical for everyday trips. Over the next 10-years, the plan targets 19 miles of near-term improvements and Pedestrian Districts to create connected sidewalks, clearer crossings, and other changes to make walking safer and more comfortable. Thank you to everyone who shared feedback and helped shape the plan, the final adopted plan will be published this fall. | | The City’s Pledge to Enhancing Pollinator Habitat | | As part of Palo Alto’s commitment to the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, the City continues to improve habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Through an ongoing partnership with HandsOn Bay Area, volunteers have participated in workdays across Palo Alto's Community Gardens, helping weed and clear pathways, prepare vacant plots, and plant native and pollinator-friendly plants around garden perimeters. This work helps upkeep our community garden spaces and engages residents and volunteers in hands-on environmental opportunities. Learn more about the pledge and action items that are planned for this year. | | Supporting community safety, the City and the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) are seeking to boost community awareness around e-bike use. PAUSD is implementing rules for regulating e-bike use by students on their campuses to address safety concerns. Riding an e-bike is an innovative way for adults to stay active, reduce carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions and they are rising in popularity due to their many benefits. The City recommends that youth under 18 years old do not ride e-bikes and other electric motorized devices. This year, PAUSD introduced new campus regulations for e-bikes and other electric transportation devices. | | Horizontal Levee Pilot Completion Celebration | | The City of Palo Alto, San Francisco Estuary Partnership, and regional and state partners announced today the completion of the Palo Alto Horizonal Levee Pilot project, a first in the Bay Area to use a nature-based solution protecting against sea level rise and improving marsh habitat in the San Francisco Bay. This innovative project will inform how future large-scale “living levee” projects of this kind might be used to help the Bay Area adapt to sea level rise. Read the full announcement. | | |
California Coastal Cleanup
Saturday, September 19
9 a.m. - Noon
Help keep our creeks clean by volunteering for a creek cleanup event. The City of Palo Alto is hosting two cleanup locations and Matadero and San Francisquito Creeks, and will provide trash grabbers, bags, gloves, snacks and water for volunteers.
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Saturday, September 12 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Teens, join us to go behind the scenes of wastewater treatment. Ideal for teens exploring environmental science, engineering, hands-on trades, and public service.
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Sunday, September 20 & Sunday, November 15 | 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Please join us for an informative workshop presented by UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. Each session will feature a different topic.
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Thursday, September 24 | 5 - 7 p.m.
The Repair Café Palo Alto is a volunteer-run, community service dedicated to encouraging the repair and reuse of goods rather than dumping them in landfill. Bring broken things and repair volunteers will help to assess what it takes to repair them for continued use and life.
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Saturday, October 3 | 1 - 3 p.m.
Join the City and 350 Silicon Valley Palo Alto at this fun and informative event for people of all ages! In recognition of Clean Air Day, learn about how to create clean air inside and out of your home, and choose clean appliances through City programs, services, and more.
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Sunday, October 4 | 1 - 3 p.m.
Explore Palo Alto’s parks, open spaces and other fun destinations using route maps to find little known bike bridges, off-road trails and less traveled streets that make bicycling Palo Alto easy and fun. This free, community-organized event offers fun booth and more.
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Saturday, October 10 | 1 - 3 p.m.
Instead of letting last year’s Halloween gear gather dust, bring it to the Scare Faire to donate, swap, and give those disguises a second life.
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Saturday, November 07 | 10 a.m. - Noon
Learn how easy it is to make your own worm compost at one of our free compost workshops. Worms will eat your kitchen scraps and create a nutrient rich soil amendment for indoor and outdoor plants.
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First Friday of each month, except November 6 has been rescheduled to November 13
The Climate Action & Sustainability Committee considers and makes recommendations to advance the City's climate action and sustainability goals.
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Every Saturday & first Friday of each month
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station provides Palo Alto residents with an environmentally safe, convenient way to dispose of unwanted hazardous household products such as used or expired medication, paints, solvents, fuels, cleaners, pesticides, etc., which contain hazardous substances.
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