Race to Zero

Cities Race to Zero

The City of Boca Raton is Racing to Zero!

The City of Boca Raton is one of over 1,000 cities that are committing to limit the negative impacts of climate change by getting to net zero carbon emissions before 2050.

Learn more about Cities Race to Zero at C40.org. 

Why net zero carbon emissions by 2050?

Net Zero carbon emission by 2050, with an interim target of 50% global emission reduction by 2030, is the emission reduction scenario scientists agree is the most likely to limit global average warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the goal of the Paris Agreement.

Read more about the 1.5 degree goal from the IPCC. 

What does the Cities Race to Zero Pledge say?

On March 21, 2022 Boca Raton City Council decided to commit the City of Boca Raton to the Cities Race to Zero Pledge. Mayor Scott Singer signed the pledge, committing the City of Boca Raton to do the following:

  • Endorse these principles:
    • We recognize the global climate emergency;
    • We are committed to keeping global heating below the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement;
    • We are committed to putting inclusive climate action at the center of all urban decision-making, to create thriving and equitable communities for everyone;
    • We invite our partners -- political leaders, CEOs, trade unions, investors, and civil society -- to join us in recognizing the global climate emergency and help us deliver on science-based action to overcome it.
  • Adopt a science-based emission reduction target consistent with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
    • This includes achieving a fair share of 50% global reduction in emissions by 2030 and reaching zero carbon by 2050 at the latest.
  • Plan and immediately begin implementing specific inclusive climate policies across buildings, transport, waste, clean energy, food, nature, and other key sectors.

How is the City of Boca Raton meeting the pledge commitments?

The City currently has a greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 15% reduction by 2025. This reduction target will be increased so that it meets the requirements of a fair share of 50% global reduction in emissions by 2030. Once the target is updated, the City will share the target and the progress we continue to make towards meeting the target.

The City already has in place a Sustainability Action Plan which includes high impact climate actions such as developing policies for an electric vehicle fleet and identifying opportunities to include solar electricity generation on City facilities. The Sustainability Action Plan is scheduled to be updated in 2025 and the update will focus on high impact action to get the City to the 2030 emission reduction targets.

The Florida League of Cities initiated a cohort of twenty Florida cities and communities, including Boca Raton, who are working together with technical assistance from various organizations in order to set science-based targets and plan high impact actions to move the City towards net zero.