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10 07, 2023

How Cities Shape Global Sustainable Development

2023-07-11T16:03:18-05:00

The recently published U20 2023 Communiqué to G20 leaders highlights the importance of collaborative action in addressing global sustainability challenges. It also underscores the significance of organizations like Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) and their efforts to connect with and support initiatives like G20 and U20, which bring together leaders from around the world to discuss critical issues. By empowering local communities and promoting sustainable practices, SSMC contributes to the goals outlined by G20 and U20, reinforcing the critical role of cities in addressing sustainability challenges. Understanding G20 and U20 The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum that [...]

How Cities Shape Global Sustainable Development2023-07-11T16:03:18-05:00
18 06, 2022

Making Public Transit in the Bay Area Sustainable

2022-06-18T13:47:15-05:00

With the arrival of Caltrain’s new electric trains this year and the full electrification of Caltrain’s San Francisco Corridor on the horizon, our June 2022 Happy Hour focused on looking at the Bay Area’s public transit systems to see how they can be optimized for a more sustainable future. Three transit experts shared different approaches that public, private and nonprofit organizations have taken to make the region’s public transit more convenient, equitable and sustainable. Casey Fromson, Chief Communications Officer for the San Mateo County Transportation Authority, Caltrain and SamTrans, highlighted Caltrain’s 2040 Service Vision and how it is incorporating sustainable [...]

Making Public Transit in the Bay Area Sustainable2022-06-18T13:47:15-05:00
27 04, 2022

High Voltage, Low Impact Buildings: Building Electrification Efforts in San Mateo County

2022-06-18T13:32:37-05:00

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released earlier this month warned that to stay within 1.5 °C of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 or earlier before declining. The report gave the effort to decarbonize buildings through electrification more urgency, but scientists have long known the risks of using natural gas indoors. Electrified buildings can draw power from renewable sources, but natural gas remains many buildings’ primary energy source in San Mateo County, despite its large greenhouse gas footprint and associated hazards. Three expert speakers shared their knowledge about building electrification during our April 2022 [...]

High Voltage, Low Impact Buildings: Building Electrification Efforts in San Mateo County2022-06-18T13:32:37-05:00
30 03, 2022

Time to Turn off the Faucet: Drought Implications in San Mateo County

2022-03-31T13:37:09-05:00

As the growing multiyear drought in California continues to make headlines, we were happy to invite two water experts to speak at our March Happy Hour. Tom Francis, the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency’s (BAWSCA) Water Resource Manager gave an update on the status of the drought in San Mateo County, while Kan Parthiban, Sustainability Director of LYNGSO Garden Materials, Inc. spoke about how healthy soil can support water conservation. Francis warned that San Mateo County will have to make wise choices to conserve water in the near future. The county and surrounding region currently fall within the [...]

Time to Turn off the Faucet: Drought Implications in San Mateo County2022-03-31T13:37:09-05:00
14 03, 2021

Check Out Our Ideas Bank!

2023-06-19T16:32:34-05:00

We’ve launched our new, expanded Sustainability Ideas Bank to help local cities and businesses accelerate sustainability. The Ideas Bank shares nearly 80 sustainability solutions from cities and businesses that have proven successful in San Mateo County as well as many other areas. It makes it easier for leaders to address climate change and other issues related to sustainability by removing the need for staff members to research the feasibility of ideas and for attorneys to draft new ordinances and policies. Instead, they can move quickly to adopt solutions that have already proven successful elsewhere. Nearly all ideas include contact information [...]

Check Out Our Ideas Bank!2023-06-19T16:32:34-05:00
30 01, 2021

Virtual Happy Hour

2021-01-30T15:41:22-05:00

For our first Happy Hour of 2021, we welcomed Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, cofounder of the Ecological Footprint and President of  the Global Footprint Network. He explained different ways to view how humans have impacted the planet and we discussed how we can all tread more lightly on our planet. As we add up all the demands we make on our planet, Mathis and his colleagues estimate that we are using more than the earth can renew. In fact, we are using about 1.56 earths when we should actually use half an earth in order to maintain a stable climate and [...]

Virtual Happy Hour2021-01-30T15:41:22-05:00
25 11, 2020

Creating Win-Wins with Green Jobs

2020-11-26T12:20:11-05:00

For our October Happy Hour, we were joined by Justine Burt, Founder and CEO of Appraccel, a local environmental sustainability consulting firm. Justine has worked with organizations including NASA, Costco, and the U.S House of Representatives and brings a wealth of knowledge about green jobs to the table. Fun fact about Justine: She is not only an amazing advocate for the Earth and CEO, she is also a first-time author. Her book, “The Great Pivot”, is a blueprint for creating green, meaningful jobs and advocates for a green recovery to pull us out from the economic recession. It is available [...]

Creating Win-Wins with Green Jobs2020-11-26T12:20:11-05:00
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
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