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I’ve written recently about the various sustainability skills I’m trying to build: mostly writing and advocacy. The next skill is advocating for change at the city level. This is a project I’m still working on, so there won’t be a “Success! Huzzah!”-type of ending to this post.

As I wrote in my recent letter to the editor, cities need to set science-based targets to work toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. I think setting targets is the most basic step toward making any progress.

Redondo Beach, where I live, is a pretty forward thinking place, but they haven’t joined the Race to Zero initiative (which involves making a net-zero pledge and setting science-based targets), unlike several nearby cities. So I started by writing to my council member to ask if the city would consider it.

While waiting to hear back, I also used my city’s customer service portal to get some information. Redondo Beach adopted a climate action plan an few years ago, and I wondered if maybe they were way ahead of me, in terms of planning.

I read the plan itself, and it was pretty solid. Lots of good ideas of measures to look into, including encouraging electric vehicles, greening the city, and the typical measures recommended by the UN and other bodies.

So I asked the city how implementation was going. And…

It hasn’t been going anywhere. See the public comment I made on a City Council Meeting agenda for details:

Deepti Kannapan
Location:
Submitted At: 6:20pm 08-09-22
At the end of the 2017 Climate Action Plan (https://www.redondo.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=35593), the next steps were listed as setting up a Climate Action Team and designating an Implementation Coordinator.
Per some information I received via customer service request, the Community Development Department is not aware of a Climate Action Team having been formed, and the Community Development Director doesn’t believe any further action was taken other than adopting it. I am waiting for similar information from the City Manager’s office.
I wanted to ask how we can follow through on the good foundation set in 2017, and see the proposed measures come to fruition.

eComments page

So… the plan was made five years ago, and then no action taken on it. I’m hoping that will change soon.

These city council meetings are hybrid in-person/virtual, so I made an eComment and then Iurked on Zoom. I guess I could have spoken my comment if I wanted. They read my comment aloud during the meeting! You watch the video here (just the few seconds where they read it). And kudos for a reasonably good pronunciation of my name.

* * *

I’m pretty new at this advocacy thing, so I’m reaching out to local environmental groups for help.

Some suggestions if you’re curious about trying this:

• Did you know cities had customer service portals? Mine turned out to be pretty responsive! You need to check your city’s official site (which may be clunky and old-fashioned).
• Here’s an article I read before going, to learn about why going to council meetings is a good idea for being civically engaged in general.
• I was hoping the meeting would be zany like in Gilmore Girls, but it was not.

More to come as I continue to pursue this!