SSMC celebrates sustainability champions with prestigious awards every spring. We recognize extraordinary contributions to San Mateo County with our Sustainability Awards, including a Youth Sustainability Award. We collaborate with the American Institute of Architects’ San Mateo County chapter to present Green Building Award to sustainability building owners, architects and builders. The SSMC Board also recognizes exemplary contributors to our work with the Ruth Peterson Award, named in memory of a dedicated SSMC leader. Learn more about this year’s awards, sponsorship opportunities and event.

Our Indicators Reports deliver fact-based insights on local economic, environmental and societal trends. Each year, we select a deep-dive topic based on community priorities and map regional barriers and opportunities through data-driven research and interviews with local leaders, residents and CBOs. By co-creating solutions with those most affected, we ensure our findings are rooted in equity. Following publication, we host facilitated sessions with a cross-section of stakeholders—building a bridge between data and action to foster the cross-sector collaboration necessary to turn these insights into measurable regional progress for future generations.

Our Sustainability Dashboard tracks progress in 13 sustainability focus areas with over 90 equity-focused metrics for all 20 cities and the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. Local leaders and residents can track progress toward sustainability goals and identify where more work is needed. While sharing the data with city leaders, we also suggest proven solutions from our Sustainability Ideas Bank that have been successfully implemented by other cities.

The Sustainability Ideas Bank offers over 90 proven, impactful sustainability solutions to local cities and businesses that have been implemented successfully elsewhere. Why reinvent the wheel when you can benefit from the experience of others? Each solution includes resources and contact information so people can get questions answered by those who have paved the way.

SSMC is cultivating the next generation of sustainability leaders. Since 2019, our internship program has trained more than 88 students in research, leadership and sustainable practices, inspiring many to pivot their careers toward climate action. Additionally, our Youth Advisory Council empowers nearly 50 high school students each year to spearhead their own advocacy and climate projects. These young leaders don’t just participate; they actively influence SSMC’s organizational priorities through direct input to our Board of Directors, while gaining the policy and advocacy skills necessary to lead future sustainability efforts across San Mateo County’s cities and schools.

SSMC’s webinars bring people together and build community. At these online gatherings, you’ll meet experts on a wide variety of sustainability topics and explore solutions to current issues. You can ask questions and suggest ideas. Past topics have included gas-powered leaf blower bans, advocacy training for how to influence local policy and how communities and schools can work together to drive sustainable food system change.

SSMC believes in the power of advocacy to drive positive change in our communities. We do this by fostering connections among residents, local organizations and decision-makers to advance sustainability solutions. We equip communities with data and tools to advocate for their needs, with a special emphasis on ensuring historically marginalized communities play a central role in shaping program and policy decisions.