Welcome to Walnut Creek CA Climate Action & Advocacy, your go-to resource for local initiatives, city policies, and community engagement in building a sustainable future.
Walnut Creek sits at the base of Mount Diablo, with creeks and open space preserves running through and around it. The city is known for its thriving downtown, with the Lesher Center for the Arts and other venues providing access to regional arts and culture.
With these cultural resources, plus hundreds of acres of permanent open space, Walnut Creek offers a balance between suburban living and natural beauty. As a key hub in Central Contra Costa County, its residents enjoy both urban amenities and outdoor recreation.
Our vision of Walnut Creek’s future is one where bike paths and safe pedestrian walkways connect every neighborhood to BART and downtown, and clean energy powers homes and businesses. We envision creeks that remain clear and healthy for wildlife and people alike, and the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and the Walnut Creek Watershed Council have been helping make that happen.
We imagine tree-lined streets that cool the city in hot summers, abundant EV charging stations, and development that protects open space while creating more affordable and climate-resilient housing.
City officials recently approved a ban on gas leaf blowers, eliminating a source of concentrated toxic combustion byproducts and excessive noise. The law includes exemptions for emergency situations. The city has already transitioned to electric leaf blowers for its groundskeeping equipment.
City officials recently approved a ban on gas leaf blowers, eliminating a source of concentrated toxic combustion byproducts and excessive noise. The law includes exemptions for emergency situations. The city has already transitioned to electric leaf blowers for its groundskeeping equipment.
Walnut Creek, in tandem with state mandates, is also encouraging the use of electricity in new buildings, rather than gas systems that create indoor and outdoor pollution.
California requires most newly constructed buildings to be equipped for solar energy use, making it generally cheaper to build for electrical systems only, than for builders to incur the cost of installing a dual-gas system as well.
Walnut Creek has made some steps toward environmental action, including a Sustainability Action Plan and efforts to preserve thousands of acres of open space through the city’s Open Space Division. Still, challenges remain: traffic congestion, wildfire risk in hillside neighborhoods, and the need for stronger commitments to implement the Sustainability Action Plan in a shorter timeframe.
We plan to work toward Walnut Creek updating and fully enacting a climate action plan within the next few years, one that emphasizes green building, water conservation, wildfire preparedness, and expanded public transit.
Walnut Creek has made some steps toward environmental action, including a Sustainability Action Plan and efforts to preserve thousands of acres of open space through the city’s Open Space Division. Still, challenges remain: traffic congestion, wildfire risk in hillside neighborhoods, and the need for stronger commitments to implement the Sustainability Action Plan in a shorter timeframe.
We plan to work toward Walnut Creek updating and fully enacting a climate action plan within the next few years, one that emphasizes green building, water conservation, wildfire preparedness, and expanded public transit.
We need your help to get climate-impacting bills passed by our State Legislature. You can influence California climate legislation.
Your senator, Tim Grayson, is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Thank him for voting AB 1577 and AB 2157 out of committee with a do-pass recommendation and urge him to follow through and vote Yes on the Senate floor. Email Senator Grayson using this website form or call his office at 916.651.4009 now to urge him to vote yes on our endorsed bills:
If you live in District 16, email Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan using this website form or call her office at 916.319.2016 to urge her to vote yes on these bills. If you live in District 15, email Assemblymember Ávila Farías using this website form or call her office at 916.319.2015.
These bills are described in the Endorsed and Opposed Bills section on our Legislative page. Your email or phone call only needs to list the bill numbers; descriptions are unnecessary.
After the Senate/Assembly floor votes, these bills will go to Governor Newsom for his approval or veto, so you can help make California climate law!
A few city liaisons helped influence Walnut Creek’s city council to ban gas-powered leaf blowers throughout the city. What that means for residents:
We invite all interested to join our Walnut Creek City Liaison team and work with us to support the city in furthering its climate-friendly programs and policy development.
Walnut Creek’s five city council members serve four-year, staggered terms, with elections held for upcoming seats every two years. Public health, safety, and quality of life are the council’s chief charges. Priorities for 2025-2026 are as follows.
Ongoing priority: Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Walnut Creek’s five city council members serve four-year, staggered terms, with elections held for upcoming seats every two years. Public health, safety, and quality of life are the council’s chief charges. Priorities for 2025-2026 are as follows.
Ongoing priority: Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
350 Contra Costa Action and 350 Bay Area Action endorsed two of our current council members in the 2024 election, denoted by a 🍃.
Learn about the mayor and council members on the official city website. To contact the mayor and city council, send an email to mayor@walnut-creek.org.
The City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 1666 North Main Street.
6 pm, 1st and 3rd Tue of the month
City Hall Council Chamber
1666 North Main Street
All meetings are televised live on Comcast Channels 28 and 26 (Rossmoor), Astound Channel 29, and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99. Locate streaming video of all City Council meetings. To provide public comment, follow these guidelines.
City Council meeting agendas are posted after 2:00 pm on the Friday before the meeting. If you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 925-943-5818.
Meets 2nd & 4th Thursdays of the month, 6:00 pm, City Council Chamber, City Hall, 1666 N. Main St., Walnut Creek. Staff contact: Chip Griffin, 925-943-5899, ext. 2678.
6 pm, 2nd & 4th Thu of the month
City Hall Council Chamber
1666 North Main Street
Staff contact: Chip Griffin, 925-943-5899, ext. 2678.
View all public meeting agendas and minutes.
We invite you to help us lead Walnut Creek toward a brighter, more sustainable future. Together, we can embrace climate responsibility and accountability for our community. Your voice matters!
