The Green Wharf team proposes a multi-phase project on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to mitigate the effects of climate change through the implementation of incentivized green business programs, emission-reducing technologies, and an educational eco-tour. Due to concerns about climate change and its associated environmental impacts, such as sea level rise, flooding, drought, ocean acidification, cliff erosion, and salt-water intrusion, the City of Santa Cruz has developed a Climate Action Program with the goal of reducing the City’s greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 30% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The state of California has also developed a similar goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020. The realization of these goals will require a collaborative effort and multi-directional approach. We believe that the Santa Cruz Wharf has the necessary resources to establish such an approach to inspire community involvement and instigate a tangible, city-wide effort to make “sustainability” accessible.

Over the next six months, the GreenWharf Project Team will focus on developing three sustainably accessible tools that will contribute to realizing our climate change goals in Santa Cruz. They are explained in greater detail below, and are: (1) promoting green business practice through resource efficiency programs, particularly the Green Business Program, (2) developing an electric vehicle infrastructure at the Wharf, and (3) bringing educational outreach programs, specifically an EcoTour, to the Wharf.