Agriculture and Food

Local elected officials have a monumental task. On any given night, a City Council member might have to vote on a complex housing development, a municipal budget and a detailed climate action plan. They cannot be experts in everything—and that is exactly where you come in. Community involvement is the lifeblood of local governance. By showing up, residents inform decision-makers about neighborhood realities and reinforce shared community values. For instance, ensuring an equitable clean energy transition is vital for our environment and the health of all residents, but it requires active civic voices to keep it a top priority. [...]

Introduction & Author’s Note In my role as the Executive Director of Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC), I often find myself at the intersection of complex regional debates. I am not a water management expert or a hydrologist; rather, my goal in writing this article is to help our community navigate the interconnected challenges of environmental health, economic vitality and social equity. On February 18, I attended a meeting of the San Mateo County Resource Management and Climate Protection Committee (part of the City/County Association of Governments, or C/CAG) to listen to a critical debate that touches all three of [...]

The energy was electric at our 27th Annual Sustainability Awards Celebration. Almost 300 government leaders, community advocates and business changemakers gathered to celebrate the local pioneers proving that environmental health and economic prosperity go hand-in-hand. This year’s event was more than just a ceremony; it was an invitation. With a new format and accessible ticket pricing, SSMC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring sustainability is a conversation everyone can join. From the youth displaying what is to come, to our award winners’ impact here and now, the evening showcased how our collective power in San Mateo County creates ripples of [...]

Here in the U.S., we seem to love awards. Whether it’s the Grammys for the tunes that get us through Monday mornings or the Academy Awards for the cinema that moves us, we gather to celebrate the "best of the best." We do it to be inspired, to witness excellence, and—let’s be honest—to see who wore it best (especially when it’s a recycled vintage gown). But if we can throw a party for a three-hour epic movie, shouldn't we throw one for the people literally saving our piece of the planet? Enter: The "Oscars of Sustainability" [...]

Watch the recording of SSMC's webinar to learn how cities can reduce emissions and improve the health of their community by moving toward plant-forward food systems. Guest speakers: Sophia Hahn, former Berkeley Vice Mayor Leah Kelly from Center for Biological Diversity Samantha Lau from Plant Based Treaty From Policy to Plate: Scaling Plant-Forward Food Systems in San Mateo County In the second installment of Sustainable San Mateo County’s (SSMC) webinar series on reducing food emissions, experts gathered to discuss findings and recommendations from the 2025 Indicators Report, [...]

SSMC Board Member Georgi LaBerge is turning 90 this month, and she shows no signs of slowing down. She regularly attends workout and balance classes, goes camping and competes every year with her husband, Warren Dale, in the National World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, where they have won multiple gold medals in power walking and volleyball. Upon joining SSMC’s board in 2018, she focused on fund development, helped expand our annual Awards program and taught local students how to advocate in local government. She usually has a clever idea to add to any discussion. A native of Colorado, [...]

Watch Chiara's award video!SSMC is proud to award Chiara Luey the 2026 Youth Sustainability Award for her exceptional ability to drive ripples of impact through technical clean-energy data, local policy and global education. She does not simply advocate for a sustainable future; she engineers it through data-driven infrastructure, legislative action and a relentless passion for engaging and teaching others in her community. Integrating the 3E's of Sustainability Chiara’s portfolio of work demonstrates a rare maturity in connecting environmental goals with economic and social realities. A 12th grader at Crystal Springs Uplands school, her impact is broad: Environment and Policy: As [...]

Watch JobTrain's award video!SSMC is proud to award JobTrain a 2026 Sustainability Award for its profound commitment to the "Three E’s" of sustainability: Environment, Economic vitality and social Equity. For six decades, JobTrain has served as a cornerstone of San Mateo County, evolving from a local job-training site into a regional powerhouse of economic mobility. The Three E's in Action JobTrain recognizes that true sustainability is impossible without equity. With a client base that is 90% BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), JobTrain directly dismantles the barriers that keep underserved communities from thriving. Social Equity: By providing free, accredited [...]

Watch PPPs award video!SSMC is proud to award Peninsula Precious Plastics (PPP) a 2026 Sustainability Award for its visionary approach to circular economy principles, environmental education and community-driven manufacturing. Founded as a local Precious Plastic chapter in 2020 by local high school students determined to combat climate change, PPP has evolved into a nonprofit regional hub that proves plastic waste is not a burden, but a valuable resource. The Three E's: a Circular Blueprint PPP took inspiration and guidance from the global Precious Plastic community. By leveraging the global community's knowledge, tools and techniques, PPP has been able to address [...]

Watch Elaine's Award video!SSMC is proud to award Elaine Salinger a 2026 Sustainability Award for her extraordinary leadership as the San Mateo County Chapter Leader and Youth Mentor for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). Elaine has transformed climate advocacy in our region by turning passive concern into powerful, systemic political action and proving that the voices of our youth are the most potent tools we have for environmental change. Education, Engagement and Equity Elaine’s work targets the heart of sustainability by bridging the gap between scientific understanding and political action. Environment: Through over 50 interactive presentations annually, Elaine uses the MIT-developed [...]