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Climate Action

1 10, 2021

Air Quality for All

2021-10-01T15:36:58-05:00

At Sustainable San Mateo County’s Happy Hour on July 20 titled “Air Quality for Equality”, attendees discussed disparities in air quality in San Mateo County and the wider Bay Area. Guest speaker David Canepa, who serves on the county’s Board of Supervisors and sits also on the Board of Directors at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, correlated these disparities to racial and socioeconomic differences and highlighted some of the work the county is doing to combat these impacts. Ulysses Vinson, director of SMC Labs, explained how his firm is partnering with an air quality company, Clarity, to monitor [...]

Air Quality for All2021-10-01T15:36:58-05:00
17 07, 2021

San Mateo County Gets Ready for Wildfire Season

2021-07-17T23:01:08-05:00

In 2020 alone, while nearly 2.5 million Californians were infected by COVID-19, nearly 10,000 fires burned 4.2 million acres across the state (The New York Times 2021, Cal Fire 2020). That is more than one football field’s worth of land burned for each Californian infected by COVID-19. Fire preparedness is pivotal to preserving the health of our surrounding ecosystems and communities. As a local resident, I wanted to learn more about what work is being done to prepare for wildfires this year. I reached out to Samuel Herzberg, a Senior Planner at the San Mateo County Parks Department, and Portola [...]

San Mateo County Gets Ready for Wildfire Season2021-07-17T23:01:08-05:00
30 06, 2021

Just How Bad Is the Drought?

2021-06-30T20:33:25-05:00

On June 22, Santa Clara County’s Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency due to this year’s extreme drought conditions. To date, 2021 ranks as the second driest year for California, with 1977 being the driest year on record. Yet San Mateo County hasn’t asked residents to cut back water use. Why? At our June Happy Hour, Tom Francis explained that San Mateo County’s water reserves are in much better shape than many jurisdictions in the state. As Water Resources Manager at the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), Tom tracks water levels closely. He said 85 percent [...]

Just How Bad Is the Drought?2021-06-30T20:33:25-05:00
14 06, 2021

Innovations for a Low Carbon Food System

2021-06-14T00:50:48-05:00

At our May 26 Happy Hour, our guest speaker, Jill Kauffman Johnson explained how microalgae and other microorganisms can help us work toward a low carbon food system. Jill is the Executive Advisor of Sustainability and Society at Corbion (http://www.corbion.com/), a bio-based products company centered around innovative food and specialty ingredients derived from microalgae. Food systems are responsible for a large fraction of our global greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, as we learned (thanks to a trivia question), in the U.S. in 2019, 10 percent of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions came from the agricultural sector. Jill explained that every [...]

Innovations for a Low Carbon Food System2021-06-14T00:50:48-05:00
14 05, 2021

Hit the Road in Green Mode

2021-05-14T14:02:35-05:00

Our Happy Hour on April 15 explored sustainable transportation in San Mateo County. We were excited to have Carlos Moreno from Peninsula Clean Energy, Mary Thomasmeyer from Commute.org and Emma Shales from Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) as guest speakers. Carlos, the Community Outreach Specialist for Peninsula Clean Energy, explained that since Peninsula Clean Energy launched in 2016, it has been providing electricity to the area from clean energy sources. Customers can choose between going with 50 percent or 100 percent of their electricity coming from renewables. Both options are 100% carbon-free. So far, Peninsula Clean Energy has had a [...]

Hit the Road in Green Mode2021-05-14T14:02:35-05:00
19 10, 2020

Indicator Report Launch Offers Hopeful Responses to Climate Crisis

2020-10-19T12:15:49-05:00

Those attending Sustainable San Mateo County’s online Key Indicators Launch on October 6 came away with many reasons for hope. We were given the gift of a very doable list of effective actions to take in response to the climate crisis. If you did not have an opportunity to log in, we encourage you to view a recording of it here. SSMC’s2020 Key Indicators Report focuses on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency as these apply to buildings, water use and waste management, land use and transportation, financing and community outreach. Keynote speaker Josh Becker, public policy innovator and social entrepreneur, [...]

Indicator Report Launch Offers Hopeful Responses to Climate Crisis2020-10-19T12:15:49-05:00
5 10, 2020

Community Education and Outreach Efforts on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

2020-10-09T15:23:14-05:00

San Mateo County Office of Education's Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative The San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) launched its Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative at the start of the 2017-18 school year. The initiative's vision is for the school communities and leaders to prioritize sustainability integration and environmental literacy for all students. The initiative supports a broad variety of complementary programs and efforts, including: Collective Impact - Campus as a Laboratory for Learning Program: This program utilizes the Collective Impact Approach to bring together school districts and their broader community to “green” one aspect of their school’s [...]

Community Education and Outreach Efforts on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency2020-10-09T15:23:14-05:00
26 09, 2020

2021 Indicators Report Launch

2021-10-21T12:20:46-05:00

2021 Indicators Report Focuses on Equitable Housing At the launch of our 25th annual Indicators Report on October 19, speakers outlined the challenges facing the need for more affordable, equitable housing as well as some proven solutions that are making it happen.Panelists were:Rick Bonilla, Deputy Mayor, San MateoDiana Reddy, Council Member, Redwood CityMatt Franklin, Chief Executive, MidPen HousingSee a video of the Indicators Report LaunchRead a blog about the eventRead the Indicators Report on Equitable Housing About the Speakers Rick Bonilla joined the San Mateo City Council in 2015 after serving on city commissions since 2001. He [...]

2021 Indicators Report Launch2021-10-21T12:20:46-05:00
27 07, 2020

Indicators Report

2022-11-28T19:25:28-05:00

About the Indicators Report Sustainable San Mateo County has been tracking sustainability progress in the county since 1997 through its annual Indicators Report. This report provides fact-based information on sustainability indicators and local trends impacting San Mateo County’s economy, environment and social equity. Since its inception, the Indicators Report has been welcomed as a credible source of information by governments, businesses, civic groups and nonprofit organizations that use it to set goals, measure progress and prioritize resource allocation. Propelled by the philosophy that “what gets measured, gets managed,” the report presents metrics, success stories and showcases positive changes that [...]

Indicators Report2022-11-28T19:25:28-05:00
30 06, 2020

2018 Indicators Report: Climate Change Action

2020-09-25T17:14:24-05:00

Download the 2018 Indicators Report PDF here Download the 2018 Summary Report Resiliency leaders envision a renewed connection between people and our habitat, transforming lifestyles and business practices to regenerate natural systems. Aligning action with values that prioritize community health strengthens bonds and elevates those most vulnerable to climate impacts. Explore the 2018 Indicators Report by Topic Commute Management & Low Emission Transportation Energy Efficiency & Renewables Food & Agriculture Water Business Carbon Storage Eliminate Waste Resilience Planning Sponsors [...]

2018 Indicators Report: Climate Change Action2020-09-25T17:14:24-05:00
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