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Environmental Justice in Sacramento: an introduction

TL;DR: the Sacramento region is experiencing the impacts (and facing the increasing severity) of climate change and environmental injustice. Our most vulnerable and marginalized community members bear the brunt of these effects, and are often forgotten when it comes to policy decisions regarding the environment and climate. Read through this piece to see what plans our local government has in place to mitigate these impacts, and which organizations are fighting for environmental justice.


Setting the stage: what do we mean when we say “environmental justice”?



Environmental justice means that everyone has access to the same environmental benefits and protections, as well as the ability to help shape environmental policies that affect their communities.  



At the local level, Social Justice PolitiCorps states that officials within our government will demonstrate their commitment to fighting for environmental justice by:


  • Committing to addressing disadvantages caused by pollution, disasters, and environmental hazards

  • Committing to local and state climate change/greenhouse gas emission mitigation goals

  • Calling for investments in and protections for frontline communities who already are facing, and will continue to face, climate and environmental quality impacts first and worst

  • Promoting sustainable programs and practices that ensure public health and safety and that correct local environmental injustices

  • Seeking investment in the infrastructure and development necessary to support a renewable, sustainable, and liveable society

  • Raising awareness and empowering folx affected by pollution and environmental hazards to participate in local, state, and federal decisions affecting their lives

​

Keeping this context in mind, let’s talk about some important environmental issues facing folks living in Sacramento County. 


Table of contents:


A look at the impact of climate change on Sacramento 


The following list - produced by the Geospatial Innovation Facility at the University of California, Berkeley, and pulled from Sacramento City’s 2024 Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) - identifies climate risks expected for the Sacramento region.


  • Temperature Increase

  • Extreme Heat Days

  • Heat Waves

  • Heat-Related Illnesses

  • Urban Heat Islands and Tree Canopy

  • Heat-Related Infrastructure Impacts

  • Changes in Precipitation Patterns

  • Flooding

  • Storms

  • Changes in Winter Snowpack

  • Drought

  • Groundwater Supply

  • Water and Soil Quality

  • Wildfire

  • Air Quality

  • Sea Level Rise


Side note: what's a CAAP? 350 Sacramento explains: "Climate Action Plans (CAPs) are legally enforceable plans detailing how a jurisdiction will meet California’s climate goals."


ClimateCheck also identifies the increased risks from heat, fire, and precipitation for people living in Sacramento - they state:

Heat and precipitation risk in Sacramento, CA is high. Drought risk is significant. About 43% of buildings in Sacramento, CA are at risk of wildfire, and the risk level for these buildings is significant. About 44% of buildings in Sacramento, CA are at risk of flooding, and the risk level for these buildings is significant

ClimateCheck on their methodology: "For each hazard—heat, precipitation, drought, flooding, and fire—we analyze the modeled frequency and severity of extreme events, in the past and through 2050, to create a 1-100 rating relative to our data coverage area." Learn more!


How does climate change and environmental injustice impact the community? 


There are groups of people in our community who are especially vulnerable to the harmful impacts of climate change and environmental injustice, these groups include: 

*information pulled from the US Environmental Protection Agency & Sacramento's CAAP


  • Children under the age of 18

  • Older adults

  • Communities of color

  • Immigrants 

  • Indigenous populations

  • People with disabilities

  • People with chronic medical conditions 

  • People who work outside, in hot indoor environments, or emergency response

  • Pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women

  • People living in low-income communities/households

  • People living outside

  • Renters 

  • Linguistically isolated households


Populations that are the most impacted by our changing climate exist at the intersection of multiple avenues of oppression, including (to name a few): historic and ongoing racism, redlining, the ongoing legacy of colonialism, community underinvestment, sexism, ableism, discrimination, a lack of access to resources, and a lack of opportunities for living in safe & stable environments. People experiencing these compounding inequities bear the brunt of the damage done by worsening climate & environmental conditions. 


To further contextualize this, here are a few examples of how climate change/environmental injustice shows up in our community: 


1. Extreme heat: Urban Heat Islands - information pulled from this 2020 report: Extreme Heat and Social Vulnerability in Sacramento, CA (focused on City of Sacramento only)

  • In urban heat islands, the city infrastructure that absorbs heat during the day continues to give off heat throughout the night, reducing the city’s ability to cool down, and continuing a cycle of increasing heat. This effect (the Urban Heat Island Effect [UHI]) worsens the impact of climate-induced warming

  • Unsurprisingly, this report names that “[o]lder adults, low-income populations, non-Hispanic black residents, and those with pre-existing health conditions are all more susceptible to heat-related illness or death.” It continues to say that those folks have less access to shade and air conditioning, experience infrastructure limitations, increased health disparities and decreased access to cars (as a means of traveling to cooler areas)

Neighborhoods situated in urban heat islands have more instances of chronic illness and have among the lowest life expectancy rates, creating a social and climate justice dilemma. The population most vulnerable to high temperatures are the homeless, who are frequently chronically dehydrated and have no respite from the heat - Extreme Heat and Social Vulnerability in Sacramento, CA

This report identifies two areas of interest regarding heat risk: Stockton Corridor & Fruitridge, and North Sacramento



2. Pollution

  • These 4 sites across Sacramento - pulled from a 2020 Sacramento City Environmental Justice fact sheet - experience a disproportionate pollution burden:

    • Southern Pacific/Richards 

      • Median household income: $20,795 

      • Percentage of population with asthma: 12% 

      • Percentage of people of color: 64%

    • East Del Paso Heights 

      • Median household income: $35,769 

      • Percentage of population with asthma: 12% 

      • Percentage of people of color: 45%

    • Upper Land Park 

      • Median household income: $36,458 

      • Percentage of population with asthma: 12% 

      • Percentage of people of color: 58%

    • Granite Park

      • Median household income: $31,782 

      • Percentage of population with asthma: 11% 

      • Percentage of people of color: 37%

  • This fact sheet states that - based on data from CalEPA’sCalEnviroScreen 3.0 (2018) - Sacramento ranks in the 38th percentile statewide for pollution burden. The following quotes are pulled from the same fact sheet:

In Sacramento, air pollution and groundwater quality issues affect most parts of the city; however, lower income residents tend to feel the effects more acutely
Sacramento's pattern of pollution burden is based on its history, geography, and the way the city has developed over time…[c]ertain socioeconomic issues, like poverty, and health conditions like asthma, make some communities that experience medium to high levels of pollution even more vulnerable to worsening health conditions…

  • According to the Environmental Justice element of the 2040 Sacramento City General Plan (adopted Feb 2024), an analysis of CalEnviroScreen data showed that - regarding pollution - Sacramento is “...most affected by issues related to air quality and hazardous materials, particularly in areas of the city adjacent to former and current industrial activities”

  • The same EJ element notes (text pulled directly from doc) that in Sacramento you can find: 

    • Clusters of hazardous materials sites can be found in areas of past and present industrial activity, including Downtown near the Railyards, Upper Land Park, Old North Sacramento/Noralto, and Granite Park

    • With the exception of East Sacramento, populations that live in census tracts with an oversaturation of environmental hazards are also more likely to be lower-income and have lower average life expectancies


3. Air quality 


In their 2024 State of the Air Report, the American Lung Association found that the Sacramento-Roseville area was the seventh most polluted metropolitan region for both ozone and particle pollution (final grade pictures left) in the nation.


  • Vehicle exhaust is the biggest single source of air pollution & unhealthy air quality in Sacramento 

  • According to Sacramento City’s Environmental Justice element, Sacramento (City & County) is located in the Sacramento Valley Air Basin, which is under the jurisdiction of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD).

The Basin is designated as in “non-attainment” for select State air quality standards, which means that air pollutant emissions exceed acceptable levels for the region, primarily due to fine particles of pollution from diesel-powered trucks, buses, cars, ships, and locomotive engines, typically concentrated near ports, railyards, and freeways -  Environmental Justice element p7-7

What is our government doing to address the climate & environmental challenges facing our community? 


Let's take a brief look at climate policy & initiatives in the City and County of Sacramento! This section captures what policies & initiatives exist - on paper - to meet climate & environmental goals. Our next post will dive further into the effectiveness & execution of these policies.


Let's start with Climate Action Plans - both the City and County of Sacramento have a Climate Action Plan (CAP)

*Quick into to CAPs & their importance (CAP fact-sheet from 350 Sacramento)


...CAPs explain and commit to how a city or county will reduce GHG emissions, e.g., through electrification of new construction and building retrofits, compact development reducing auto travel, EV support, providing non-auto transportation choices, and more. CAPs can also help address historic environmental injustices - 350 Sacramento CAP fact-sheet

City of Sacramento’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP)


Sacramento adopted its current CAAP on February 27th, 2024. The CAAP identifies measures & corresponding actions to meet Sacramento’s 2030 GHG emissions target.


The measure categories are as follows: 


  • Built environment measures:

    • Support SMUD as it Implements the 2030 Zero Carbon Plan 

    • Eliminate Natural Gas in New Construction 

    • Transition Natural Gas in Existing Buildings to Carbon-free Electricity by 2045

    • Increase the Amount of Electricity Produced from Local Resources and Work with SMUD to Install Additional Local Storage by 2030

    • Support Infill Growth with the goal that 90% of new Growth is in the Established and Center/Corridor Communities and 90% Small-lot and Attached Homes by 2040, Consistent with the Regional Sustainable Communities Strategy. Project-level VMT Should be 15% Below (or 85% of) the Regional Average


  • Transportation measures:

    • Improve Active Transportation Infrastructure to Achieve 6% Active Transportation Mode Share by 2030 and 12% by 2045

    • Support Public Transit Improvements to Achieve 11% Public Transit Mode Share by 2030 and Maintain Through 2045

    • Achieve Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Adoption Rates of 28% for Passenger Vehicles and 22% for Commercial Vehicles by 2030 and 100% for all Vehicles by 2045


  • Waste measures:

    • Work to Reduce Organic Waste Disposal 75% Below 2014 Levels by 2025


  • Water & wastewater measures:

    • Reduce Water Utility Emissions (in MT CO2 e per Million Gallon Delivered) by 100% by 2030 and Maintain that Through 2045


  • Carbon sequestration measures:

    • Increase Urban Tree Canopy Cover to 25% by 2030 and 35% by 2045


Additionally, the City’s Office of Climate Action & Sustainability has sustainability initiatives centered around adaptation & resilience, air quality, buildings & energy, city operations, environmental justice, green mobility, land use, sustainable water use, urban forest plan, and water diversion listed in on their website. 


County of Sacramento’s Climate Action Plan (CAP)


The CAP identifies measures & corresponding actions to meet Sacramento County’s climate goals, including supporting fulfillment of the 2025 Blueprint, 2030 Zero Carbon Plan, and the Capital Region Climate Priorities Plan. 


The CAP sets a long-term GHG emissions reduction target for 2045 that is aligned with the AB 1279 target of reducing anthropogenic emissions to 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2045 - Sacramento County CAP p2-14

  • Community GHG reduction measures policy focus areas: 

    • Increase Carbon Sequestration in the Urban Forest and Natural and Working 

    • Lands

    • Decarbonize the Energy Supply

    • Improve Energy Efficiency and Decarbonize Buildings

    • Decarbonize Equipment

    • Institutionalize Low-Carbon Transportation

    • Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled and Vehicle Trips

    • Increase Infill Development

    • Minimize Waste and Recover Materials from the Waste Stream


  •  Government operations GHG reduction measures policy focus areas:

    • Reduce County Employees’ Single-Occupancy Vehicle Trips

    • Decarbonize County Transportation Infrastructure

    • Decarbonize Buildings

    •  Increase Water Efficiency

    • Increase Energy Efficient Lighting System


  • Categories for adaptation measures:

    • Flooding

    • Increased Temperatures and Extreme Heat

    • Sea Level Rise

    • Wildfire

    • Drought

    • Cross-Cutting  (“Cross-Cutting” refers to measures that are inherently broad and that largely address or overlap with all other climate change effects) 


On the Sustainability Dashboard of the Green Sacramento County page you can also see the measures mentioned above broken down by category with corresponding progress-trackers: greenhouse gas reduction measures (community wide & county operations), climate adaptation measures (increased temperature, wildfire-related, flooding, water supply & comprehensive). 


The County also lists two pages dedicated to “green” initiatives/projects:


Who are some of the key players working towards environmental justice in Sac County? 


Organizations (in alphabetical order):



Government bodies - although they're not always focused specifically on environmental justice, the decisions they make impact climate/environmental work in the Sacramento region



  • Sacramento County Climate Emergency Task Force

    • “On December 16, 2020, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted a Resolution declaring a climate emergency and directing the formation of a permanent Climate Emergency Mobilization Ta​sk Force. The Board, at its Aug. 9, 2022 meeting, voted to appoint 13 members to the newly created Task Force.” (note that the Task Force was put together a full 2 years after the County adopted the emergency declaration)

  • Information on the County’s work around the climate/environment can be found on their Green Sacramento County page


Our next piece will take a more in-depth look at how climate change and environmental injustice impacts the lives our most marginalized community members, and crucially, our unhoused neighbors.


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