Indicator Report

2026 Indicators Report: Tree Canopy Equity in San Mateo County Urban trees are often considered scenery, but they work as community infrastructure. A healthy canopy cools streets and homes, slows stormwater runoff, makes walking and outdoor activity more comfortable, and supports physical and mental health. These functions grow more valuable as heat waves become more frequent and as heavy storms intensify. The benefits of canopy, however, are not shared evenly: across many U.S. cities, the neighborhoods with the least tree cover are disproportionately lower-income and communities of color. Sustainable San Mateo County’s 2026 Indicators Report, “Tree Canopy [...]

2025 Indicators Report: Local Food Actions for a Cooler Future Like the energy transition, which combines clean energy expansion with efficiency improvements in buildings and industry, transforming our food system will require both reducing waste and shifting toward foods with lower carbon and resource impacts. By making better use of what we already produce and encouraging more sustainable diets, we can cut emissions, ease pressure on land and water, and build a more resilient food system. Sustainable San Mateo County’s 2025 Indicators Report focuses on two of the most impactful levers for reducing food-related emissions, where local governments [...]

2025 Indicators Report RSVP NOW! The indicators Report launch event will be on October 1, 2025 from 9 - 11 a.m. at the Sobrato Center in Redwood Shores. Click here to register. Direct and indirect emissions from the food system account for 34% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The biggest contributors to GHG emissions from the food system are food consumption—particularly animal-derived foods—and food waste. Yet, food-related emissions remain an untapped area in local climate planning, presenting a significant opportunity to make progress in reducing our carbon footprint. A 2024 SSMC survey found that several jurisdictions recognize [...]

2024 Indicators Report: Equitable Paths to EV Charging  Ensuring equitable access to EV charging is essential for creating a sustainable and inclusive future in San Mateo County. As electric vehicle adoption grows, many residents, particularly renters and those in multifamily housing, face significant barriers to charging at home.Sustainable San Mateo County’s 2024 Indicators Report, “Equitable Paths to EV Charging,” provides an overview of the county's EV charging landscape, focusing on key indicators and insights from local governments. It also offers recommendations to help provide the infrastructure necessary to encourage more residents to purchase EVs.The guiding principle throughout this report [...]

2023 Indicators Report: The Well-Being of Children, Youth & Families in San Mateo County Creating a sustainable society entails meeting the social, economic and environmental requirements of the present community while safeguarding the ability of future generations to meet their needs. For families with children—26% of San Mateo County’s households—sustainability depends on having access to a complex and interconnected network of services and supports, including child care, education, and physical and mental health care access, all within a safe and healthy environment that includes secure housing and income opportunities. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed many vulnerabilities of the county’s [...]