San Diego's Climate Plan Unrealistic, Ignores Demographic Shifts

Opinion: City's climate goals overlook transportation realities and technological innovation

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:20pm

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A San Diego resident argues the city's Climate Action Plan is flawed, as it expects half of residents to ditch their cars by 2035 despite the region's spread-out geography, aging population, and reliance on personal vehicles. The plan also fails to account for the rise of autonomous vehicles and AI-driven mobility, instead focusing on forcing a shift to walking, biking, and public transit.

Why it matters

San Diego's climate plan is shaping long-term development decisions, but its underlying assumptions about transportation are unrealistic and ignore demographic trends as well as technological innovation that will influence how people move in the coming decades.

The details

The Climate Action Plan expects 25% of San Diegans to give up their cars by 2035, even though the city is geographically spread out and most families rely on vehicles for daily life. Demographic research also shows San Diego County's population is aging, further reducing the likelihood of a mass shift away from personal vehicles. The plan is being used to justify targeted population growth in certain neighborhoods, but the author argues it's unrealistic to expect half these new residents to commute by walking, bus, trolley or bicycle.

  • The Climate Action Plan's target year is 2035.
  • Demographic research shows San Diego County's population is aging.

The players

San Diego Climate Action Plan

The city of San Diego's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, which includes ambitious goals for reducing car usage.

Mark Powell

A San Diego business owner and former San Diego County Board of Education member who wrote an opinion piece criticizing the city's Climate Action Plan.

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What they’re saying

“The plan does not align with daily life, and it overlooks the demographic future of our region.”

— Mark Powell, Opinion writer (San Diego Union-Tribune)

“Environmental responsibility and mobility should not be at odds, but expecting half the population to abandon driving in a region that is aging and spread out is not sustainable planning.”

— Mark Powell, Opinion writer (San Diego Union-Tribune)

What’s next

The author argues the flawed assumptions in the Climate Action Plan are now embedded in the city's 'Community Plans,' meaning they are actively shaping long-term development decisions. He says these community plans also need to be revised to better reflect transportation realities and technological innovation.

The takeaway

San Diego's climate plan ignores demographic trends and the rise of autonomous vehicles, instead focusing on an unrealistic goal of getting half the population to abandon personal cars. A more balanced approach is needed that recognizes sustainability is about smarter traffic management and preserving the mobility families and workers rely on, not just reducing emissions.