The City of SLO Wants Your Climate Action Plan Ideas

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

To public meeting novices and veterans alike, I hope you will consider participating in the City of SLO Climate Action Plan workshop on May 16. This is why:

1. You will have an opportunity to influence the City’s climate actions.
2. You will not be required to stand at a podium or speak into a microphone.

Let’s discuss item one first.

Climate Action Plan

You are probably aware that the San Luis Obispo City Council has made an exciting and ambitious commitment for the City to be carbon neutral by 2035.

This demonstrates to me that the City’s leaders are serious about addressing the climate crisis and taking action now. This is a big deal! We are joined in this effort by cities all over the country and around the world.

Setting the goal for 2035 carbon neutrality was the easy part. Now, we all need to come together to share what we are doing and figure out what else needs to be done to achieve this goal.

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”

― Alan Lakein

The City’s Climate Action Plan is undergoing a significant update during 2019 to incorporate the 2035 carbon neutrality goal.

This is where item two comes in.

Your Voice Matters

If you are an old hand at attending public meetings and making public comments, after reading item two you probably thought something like, “Really, what is the big deal about podiums and microphones?”

Well, if you are shy or feel uncomfortable speaking in public, a podium and a microphone can be intimidating and even prevent you from fully taking part in public meetings.

The thing is that everyone’s voice is important.

Apparently, the City of San Luis Obispo thinks so, too, because the upcoming workshop is designed to engage the public in a variety of ways.

Climate Action Plan Workshop

Last Friday, I spoke with Chris Read, the City of San Luis Obispo’s Sustainability Manager, to get the rundown on the workshop because I wanted to write a piece to encourage public meeting novices, like me, to attend.

My theory is once you take the first step, the next one becomes easier, and before you know it you are a regular public meeting participant.

I was pleased to learn that Chris is the one who will be using a microphone. He will kick off the workshop with some opening remarks and a few slides.

After Chris’ introduction, the workshop will move to an open house format. You will have an opportunity to look around, listen to conversations, ask questions, write stuff down, and talk with people face-to-face. Surely, one or more of these activities appeals to you.

The Climate Action Plan focus areas include:

• Green Energy
• Active and Clean Transportation
• Green Buildings
• Zero Waste
• Open Space (Sequestration)

After the workshop, the information and ideas collected will be posted on the City’s website. The Open City Hall site allows you to submit ideas online. You can sign up to receive email notifications about the Climate Action Plan and many other City activities by clicking here.

Throughout the year, the City will host other events to disseminate information, engage the public, and obtain community feedback.

Chris told me that the City wants you to share what you are already doing to reduce your own carbon footprint and to share your ideas about what actions you think the City should take. At this point, all ideas, big and small are on the table. I believe he is sincere.

So, let’s take Chris up on his offer and join other community members in crafting a plan that will tackle the climate crisis while protecting this beautiful place for the people who live, work, and play here now and the people who will come after us.

“Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”

― Gloria Steinem

Featured Image at Top: Kids drawing climate crisis solutions on butcher paper – photo credit iStock/FatCamera

Related Posts

• It is Your Community, Go to a Public Meeting (Green Groundswell post)
• SLO Climate Coalition – Our Kids are Counting on Us
• SLO Climate Solutions Series – Kickoff Celebration
• Tech Guys are Tree Huggers, Too

Resources

• City Kicks Off Climate Action Plan Update with Public Workshops
• City of San Luis Obispo Climate Action Webpage
• City of San Luis Obispo Climate Action Plan Webpage (sign up for e-notifications, share your ideas online at Open City Hall, and find information about public workshops)
• City of San Luis Obispo 2012 Climate Action Plan

About the Author: Linda Poppenheimer researches and writes about environmental topics to share information and to spark conversation. Her mission is to live more lightly on Earth and to persuade everyone else to do the same. She writes as The Unlikely Environmentalist at Green Groundswell.