Vernon is currently engaged with various program and planning efforts that are aligned with the goals of the City's Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP), a blueprint compiled using input from community stakeholders through a comprehensive analysis led by the Vernon Department of Health and Environmental Control.  There are several regional efforts relating to sustainability and climate action planning that include the City of Vernon, which help provide a solid foundation for the Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change and Resilience sectors of the ESAP. This includes the Gateway Cities Council of Governments’ (GCCOG) Climate Action Planning (CAP) Framework (2018), the County of Los Angeles (LA County) Our County Sustainability Plan (2019), and the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) Regional Climate Adaptation Framework (2021).

One of Vernon’s projects is the Urban Tree Canopy Prioritization (UTC), an assessment in partnership with the GCCOG, Loyola Marymount University Center for Urban Resilience and Tree People, which entails strategically planting 20% more trees to mitigate and reduce pollution and extreme heat throughout the City. It also anticipates that the tree plantings will provide greener spaces and beautification, shading, and improvements to pedestrian pathways.

Air Quality and Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions:
The City is prioritizing GHG emissions reductions strategies for the energy and transportation sectors, the largest contributors of emissions in Vernon, consistent with state targets. Vernon is also increasing awareness of and engagement with the community on GHG emissions and mitigation strategies, capitalizing on existing partnerships and communication channels through the Green Vernon Commission.

Vernon supports implementation of AQMD’s emission reduction strategies to help reduce local sources of pollution for communities in Southeast LA, South LA, and East LA/Boyle Heights/West Commerce.

Energy: 
The Vernon Public Utility’s (VPU) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is in the process of being updated, provides data on energy demands and projections, as well as estimates for future renewable energy supply and GHG emission reductions. The IRP outlines actions for meeting state goals for renewable energy supply and City goals for increasing local resilience of the energy system.

VPU serves almost 2,000 commercial and industrial customers. The City-owned Malburg Generating Station (MGS) Power Plant is a combined-cycle natural gas fired generating plant that can support 70% of the City’s electric load requirements, of which 43% is supplied through eligible renewable resources. 

Transportation: 
The City’s policies regarding transportation are contained in key documents including the General Plan Circulation Element and Bicycle Master Plan. City policies for transportation are centered around coordination with various agencies such as Metro, neighboring cities, Caltrans, and private entities such as rail yards and local businesses that move goods, to balance usage of the transportation system, reduce congestion, and promote safety for all road users. Beyond coordination with key entities, specific projects such as freeway ramps, I-710, signal coordination, and the LA River Path are specifically identified as projects to be pursued. Recent studies for the LA River Path project have evaluated potential options for improving the active transportation system in and around Vernon.

Water: 
Vernon has existing policies that address water resources, potential water shortages and drought within the General Plan, Water Conservation Ordinance, and Urban Water Management Plan. These policies are intended to reduce water usage in periods of shortage, and include watering days, limits to outdoor watering and obligations for fixing leaks in a timely manner. Recycled water is used by MGS Power Plant.

Materials and Waste: 
The City is working with waste service contractors to increase public and industrial knowledge of safe disposal practices, though this is focused on hazardous waste materials. The City provides annual reporting of solid waste tonnage by haulers and provides electronic waste recycling and disposal events for businesses and residents, to encourage proper disposal practices.

Most of the solid waste in Vernon is generated from manufacturing. Food manufacturing generates the highest amount of waste, this is followed by wholesale and trucking. In 2021 the city’s hauled solid waste totaled 135,073 tons, a decrease of eight percent from the previous year.

Food Production and Security: 
The City collects information on the number of food service facilities, including rendering, cold storage, and USDA-regulated facilities, as well as commercial edible food generators. The City’s health department works with industries to ensure compliance with health codes and regulations, and coordinates with the AQMD to remain informed of issues relating to rendering operations.

The City can offer support and guidance for operations with goals to produce products in a sustainable manner that can be sold locally to lessen the carbon footprint through a reduction in vehicle miles travelled (VMT) associated with food transportation, to use compostable packaging, and mitigate food waste.