10 signatures reached
To: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie
Mayor Lurie: Prioritize Climate Action Plan goals as you restructure city government
San Francisco must get serious about implementing the Climate Action Plan and moving forward with greater urgency toward our climate goals. Rather than relying on precarious funds and programs that need to be fought for every budget cycle, Mayor Lurie must commit to a dedicated organizational structure (e.g., an Office of Climate Action) that is consistently funded and given the authority to coordinate CAP implementation across all city departments, and that will report directly to the mayor.
Why is this important?
San Francisco approved a detailed and comprehensive Climate Action Plan in 2021 with a top-line goal of net-zero GHG emissions by 2040. Some progress towards this goal has been made since then, including general fund budget money awarded over the last few years to the SF Environment Department, for the first time ever.
But we are now in danger of going backwards in our fight to mitigate climate change. Mayor Lurie and the Board of Supervisors recently approved a 2-year budget that revokes virtually all funding for programs critical to implementing the CAP. Without changes, staff will be laid off and successful projects will grind to a halt. In the face of rising climate catastrophe, this is simply unacceptable.
The federal government’s abdication of any climate action only underscores the need for forward-thinking cities like San Francisco to lead the way, ensuring we don't get left behind as the rest of the world accelerates in this critical energy and economic transition.
San Francisco is uniquely poised as a center of innovation and progressive values to forge ahead, demonstrating how to take meaningful action on one of the greatest challenges of our time. The City can build on the excellent work already being done by our Environment Department and other City agencies, community organizations, and the business community to speed our progress towards reduced emissions and protection of our most vulnerable communities.
How it will be delivered
We will deliver the petition to Mayor Lurie in person at a meeting this fall.