The County is updating its Climate Action Plan and, in collaboration with the University of San Diego, is developing an Equity Framework (Framework) to guide implementation. The Framework is being developed through benchmarking, identification of best practices, and engagement with County staff and community-based organizations. The framework will serve as guidance for implementing inclusive climate planning across mitigation and overall resilience efforts outlined in the CAP Update. The Framework will highlight best practices for community engagement, develop foundations for centering social equity and justice in climate actions, and provide direction for supporting organizational (staff) and community capacity for climate action implementation. To begin the session, we will share the overall process of the Framework development, including components of stakeholder engagement and key concepts from the Framework. This session will offer participants an opportunity through to-be-determined activities to apply the Framework to climate actions and offer feedback on ways to improve the Framework. This project connects to the elements of Connecting for Community Wellbeing and Thriving by building awareness of climate change and climate actions with communities, filling knowledge gaps in awareness of community needs, identifying those that will be affected the most by climate change, and identifying steps that move towards transformative climate actions in ways that close disparities.

Learning Objective:
1. How to center social equity and justice in climate actions.
2. How to engage with community on these topics.
3. Ways to provide input on the framework and the CAP at-large.