OurCounty, Our Future

OurCounty, Our Future

The newly adopted OurCounty sustainability blueprint features 179 action items.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has just adopted the 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan, the most ambitious regional roadmap in the nation. The new blueprint encompasses 179 action items and tackles a number of environmental and socio-economic challenges facing the County’s nearly 10 million residents – from extreme heat to rising food insecurity, from water scarcity to housing instability.

Here we take a deep dive into how the Plan was formed and how community members can help implement it.

How does the new Plan dovetail with the work put behind the 2019 Plan?

The 2025 OurCounty Plan updates the original 2019 blueprint that sets forth 12 overarching sustainability goals for the region and is centered on the co-equal values of environment, equity and economy. The new Plan elevates climate resilience and cross-departmental coordination to meet the challenges of the future ahead.

What gains has the County made since the adoption of the original Plan?

More than half of the action items in the original Plan have been achieved or on track to be achieved by target dates. Among the notable wins:

• Adoption of an ordinance to phase out oil/gas extraction in unincorporated L.A. County
• Development of 110 acres of new parkland in unincorporated areas
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from County operations by over 40% since 2009
• Installation of 1,500 EV chargers and expansion of the electric/hybrid County fleet
• Investment of nearly $1 billion in multi-benefit stormwater capture projects

What is the overarching vision laid out in the Plan?

The new Plan envisions streets and parks that are accessible, safe, and welcoming to everyone; air, water, and soil that are clean and healthy; affordable housing that enables all residents to thrive in place; climate-ready communities that are informed and prepared, and that have infrastructure that supports them today and that will perform in a changing climate; and a just economy that runs on renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.

What are some of the most ambitious targets listed in the updated roadmap?

• Making L.A. County fossil-fuel free and achieving carbon neutrality by 2045
• Reducing toxic emissions in disadvantaged communities by 80% by 2045
• Decreasing overall per-capita waste generation by 35% by 2045

How did the Chief Sustainability Office seek and incorporate feedback from the community at large?

The CSO worked with partners and communities across LA County to discuss progress and the future direction of sustainability actions. Through 23 pop-up events, a countywide survey that gathered more than 3,600 responses, and a series of topical stakeholder workshops, the CSO gathered input and incorporated findings into the 2025 plan. Additional meetings, a virtual webinar, and a one-month public comment period all helped refine the final plan.

What is top of mind for County residents when it comes to sustainability efforts?

Nearly 70% of survey respondents agreed that Los Angeles County is more sustainable than it was five years ago, while a slightly smaller number feel the region is better prepared for climate change (62%). Across every part of L.A. County, air quality is by far the top concern for residents. Water pollution, affordable housing, utility costs, and clean energy rounded out the top five.

What are some notable updates for the 2025 Plan?

The revised Plan maintains the County’s original 12 Goals, while streamlining and strengthening its framework with 32 Targets (including new 2030 benchmarks), 33 Strategies, and 179 Actions.

The expanded actions reflect evolving priorities to address emerging issues for the region and to strengthen the integration of equity and community collaboration within the plan. New and expanded focus areas include:

• Wildfire Risk Management: implementing the Community Wildfire Protection Ordinance, updating climate-informed building codes, advocating for equitable insurance practices, and enhancing ecosystems to reduce wildfire risk and improve recovery
• Community Resilience: expanding battery storage systems and microgrids at County facilities, identifying community spaces for potential resilience hubs, and co-creating resilience training and programming with local organizations
• Tribal and Indigenous Partnership: establishing an Office of Tribal Affairs, supporting Indigenous land stewardship models, and embedding traditional ecological knowledge into climate adaptation and resilience planning
• Ocean and Marine Systems: promoting sustainable aquaculture, piloting solutions to reduce nutrient pollution and ocean acidification, restoring coastal and marine habitats, and developing a regional coastal resilience strategy
• Green Goods Movement: transitioning to zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, implementing the Truck Route Master Plan, and investing in electrified rail infrastructure to reduce freight emissions and improve air quality
• Green Economy: Identifying priority growth sectors through a Green Economy Study, expanding equitable workforce development programming, supporting ethical AI innovation, and strengthening small business ecosystems to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth
• Resource Circularity: increasing use of sustainable building materials in County projects, support for local upcycling and recycling markets, repurposing salvaged materials for public art, and a comprehensive inventory of local reuse, repair, and material recovery services

How will this new Plan be put to use at a day-to-day a level across the County?

The 2025 OurCounty Plan is more than a vision; it is a strategic tool to guide investment, programming, and policy decisions across Los Angeles County. It will serve as a foundation for allocating funding through the County’s new climate budgeting process and support the pursuit of federal and state funding along with public-private financing. In the face of federal funding rollbacks and budget constraints, a variety of funding approaches and partnerships will be needed, and the County is committed to pro-actively pursuing those opportunities.

How is the CSO held accountable for meeting these ambitious OurCounty goals?

Each year, the CSO prepares an annual report for the Board of Supervisors that outlines progress on the OurCounty Plan, identifies barriers to implementation, and recommends solutions to overcome those challenges. These annual reports serve as a key accountability mechanism, offering the County an opportunity to reflect on implementation challenges, adjust approach, and strengthen alignment with community priorities.

How can residents receive updates about the Plan in the coming years?

More information can be found about the 2025 OurCounty Plan and its development here. To stay up-to-date on the County’s latest sustainability efforts, including future engagement opportunities, please sign up for the LA County Chief Sustainability Office newsletter here.