July 15. Bad news, good news
Bad news, but good news too
This year’s budget was a bitter disappointment to the numerous community organizations and concerned individuals (if you were among them, thank you!) who implored the Mayor and the Supervisors’ Budget & Appropriations Committee to fund SF Environment Department (SFE) sufficiently to enable it to carry out the City's Climate Action Plan.
They didn’t.
For the past 3 years, SFE has only received paltry amounts from the City's General Fund. For this coming fiscal year, even those funds were cut to about $900,000. Yes, you read that right. In an annual budget of around $16,000,000,000 (that's $16 Billion), the City provides less than $1 million to the very department uniquely tasked with implementing the Climate Action Plan.
It is beyond time to hold City leaders accountable - time to adequately fund SFE so that San Francisco can continue to reduce its planet-heating emissions. Look for more about that in future newsletters. Meanwhile,
Climate change can still be addressed in San Francisco through legislation
...and there’s some good news on that front. Board of Supes President Rafael Mandelman has introduced an ordinance mandating all-electric major renovations.Buildings undergoing such renovations must install only electric systems for heating/cooling, water heating and cooking. Since 44% of the City's greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, this is a timely and necessary move forward towards an existing building stock that no longer burns natural gas.
Please send a quick letter of support to policymakers now.
New construction has been required to be all-electric since 2021. As in the new construction ordinance, there are some exceptions in the new major renovations ordinance: buildings where 1) all-electric design is technically or physically infeasible, 2) a restaurant or application for one exists, and 3) a gas-fueled system replacement or upgrade is ≤5 years old. Also, some types of renovations have been given more time to comply. Until 2028, 100% affordable housing renovations are exempt, and non-residential-to-residential building conversions are exempt until 2031.
✅ Rally for All-Electric Major Renovations Monday July 28
Join us on the front steps of City Hall Mon 7/28 at 12 noon to support passage of this legislation. Following the rally, the proposed ordinance will be heard at the Land Use and Transportation Committee at 1:30 in Room 250.
Stay and make public comment in support (talking points here). Or send a letter to the Land Use Committee, the other Supervisors (who will subsequently vote on this if it passes the committee), and the Mayor, expressing your support. More information plus our handy letter-writing tool is here.
And the beat goes on. Thanks for chiming in with us!
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This year’s budget was a bitter disappointment to the numerous community organizations and concerned individuals (if you were among them, thank you!) who implored the Mayor and the Supervisors’ Budget & Appropriations Committee to fund SF Environment Department (SFE) sufficiently to enable it to carry out the City's Climate Action Plan.
They didn’t.
For the past 3 years, SFE has only received paltry amounts from the City's General Fund. For this coming fiscal year, even those funds were cut to about $900,000. Yes, you read that right. In an annual budget of around $16,000,000,000 (that's $16 Billion), the City provides less than $1 million to the very department uniquely tasked with implementing the Climate Action Plan.
It is beyond time to hold City leaders accountable - time to adequately fund SFE so that San Francisco can continue to reduce its planet-heating emissions. Look for more about that in future newsletters. Meanwhile,
Climate change can still be addressed in San Francisco through legislation
...and there’s some good news on that front. Board of Supes President Rafael Mandelman has introduced an ordinance mandating all-electric major renovations.Buildings undergoing such renovations must install only electric systems for heating/cooling, water heating and cooking. Since 44% of the City's greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, this is a timely and necessary move forward towards an existing building stock that no longer burns natural gas.
Please send a quick letter of support to policymakers now.
New construction has been required to be all-electric since 2021. As in the new construction ordinance, there are some exceptions in the new major renovations ordinance: buildings where 1) all-electric design is technically or physically infeasible, 2) a restaurant or application for one exists, and 3) a gas-fueled system replacement or upgrade is ≤5 years old. Also, some types of renovations have been given more time to comply. Until 2028, 100% affordable housing renovations are exempt, and non-residential-to-residential building conversions are exempt until 2031.
✅ Rally for All-Electric Major Renovations Monday July 28
Join us on the front steps of City Hall Mon 7/28 at 12 noon to support passage of this legislation. Following the rally, the proposed ordinance will be heard at the Land Use and Transportation Committee at 1:30 in Room 250.
Stay and make public comment in support (talking points here). Or send a letter to the Land Use Committee, the other Supervisors (who will subsequently vote on this if it passes the committee), and the Mayor, expressing your support. More information plus our handy letter-writing tool is here.
And the beat goes on. Thanks for chiming in with us!
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June 21. Reminder: Budget Public Comment Day Monday 6/23, & write if you haven't!
This Monday: Visit Supervisors' offices with us!
Let's meet up at 10:30, outside City Hall on the sidewalk, to the left of the Polk Street steps. Rather than stand in a massive line for hours to speak for 2 minutes, we will go directly to the offices of the five Supervisors on the Budget & Appropriations Committee, and deliver a message focused on allowing the City's Climate Action Plan actually to be carried out. RSVP by replying to this email.
If you have already sent your letter to the B&A Supervisors, thank you! If you haven't yet, please do. Information below.
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June 16. Mayor's budget proposal: Wait, what?
Mayor's budget pretends there's no climate crisis.
Please send the Budget & Appropriations Supervisors a quick letter. Here's why.
Bad news so far. Mayor Lurie's proposed budget ignores the climate crisis, despite his own words:
"I wholeheartedly support the goal of getting to net-zero GHG emissions by 2040, however City Hall has failed to actually put the plan into action. The climate emergency is an existential threat. I believe we need large scale public sector investments in climate infrastructure and electrification...What's missing in recent years is the leadership and prioritization at City Hall. I will prioritize climate action not just in words, but in dollars and policy."
Sounds good, doesn't it? After taking office, Lurie also said that SF Environment Department (SFE) "punches above its weight" and must have the increased resources necessary to implement the City's Climate Action Plan.
Instead, he's proposed a 2-year budget that is completely at odds with the City's climate goals. It's hard to understand the refusal to invest (so little!) in something so vital. If this budget becomes reality, San Francisco calling itself a climate leader will become a pathetic joke.
Here's the impact of the Mayor's proposed budget on SFE over the next two years:
In Year One, SFE's direct General Fund support - so hard-won after years of advocacy (thank you!) - would be reduced from $1.5 million to $904,000. They also would lose $606,000 in indirect funding that previously came from the SFPUC. Plus, the Climate Equity Hub (which has survived this year on unspent add-back funds from last year's budget) would get $0 City funding to continue its important work decarbonizing low income residents' homes and supporting workforce training in home electrification. SFE will lose several unfilled positions but most likely avoid layoffs -- it will be scraping by on life support and cutting back some of its climate and clean transportation work.
In Year Two, they pull the plug. General Fund support shrinks to $601,000, forcing SFE to lay off staff working on building decarbonization, climate, clean transportation, and potentially clean energy, as well. Work on implementing the Climate Action Plan, and much of the Environment Department’s building decarbonization and clean transportation initiatives would end.
That is the Mayor's proposal. In June, the five Supervisors on the Budget & Appropriations Committee review it; they hear presentations from City departments (SFE presented on Friday, June 13; 20-minute video is here) and consider changes to the proposed budget. In July, the full Board of Supervisors finalizes the budget before the Mayor signs it.
What we can do
✅ Send a quick letter now to the Supervisors' Budget & Appropriations Committee. Use our handy tool to edit the template or send as is.
✅ If your Supervisor is on the committee, call as a constituentto express your concern/outrage/incredulity (not sure what District you live in? Click here).
- Chair Connie Chan - D1 (415) 554-7410
- Vice Chair Matt Dorsey - D6 (415) 554-7970
- Joel Engardio - D4 (415) 554-7460
- Rafael Mandelman - D8 (415) 554-6968
- Shamann Walton - D10 (415) 554-7670
Yours in solidarity for the climate,
SF Climate Emergency Coalition steering committee
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May 19. Mayor Lurie, real climate action must be a budget priority!
Mayor Lurie, please prioritize real climate action in your budget. SF Climate Emergency Coalition sent this letter, cosigned by 33 other community groups, to Mayor Lurie earlier this month. He is now hard at work on his budget proposal, due out by June 1. The Mayor needs to be told now, loud and clear, that you, his constituent, care about reducing GHG emissions and you want him to back up his own words (see the letter) with actions - specifically, adequately funding SF Environment Department to continue implementing the City’s Climate Action Plan.
Please send a short individual email to the Mayor ([email protected]) with CCs to his Climate Policy Chief ([email protected]) & Deputy ([email protected]) about the urgency - the health/justice/economic risks, whatever is important to you - of a warming climate. To make it easier, we have highlighted some key points in the longer letter. There's no need for you to get into the weeds! The point is to make sure the climate issue does not get kicked down the road again, buried under the mass of in-your-face problems that leaders hear about every day. Climate change is still here, still getting worse. Remind him!
Here's a sample short letter to the Mayor on this subject. Use as a template or just write your own heartfelt sentence or two. Just, please, let him hear from you.
Dear Mayor Lurie,
As your constituent, I write to express my strong support for fully funding the Climate Action Plan.
I understand the severe budget restraints you are facing. Our city/county needs to be fiscally responsible, but cutting funds from San Francisco Environment Department risks not achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. SF Environment needs its employees to continue the decarbonization work with community-based organizations; the small investment in essential staffing positions has paid for itself many times over in grant-winning and more. Either we fund the SF Environment Department and Climate Action Plan now, or we will pay for our inaction with much higher costs later. Thank you.
Sincerely,
RESIDENT NAME and ZIP CODE
Thanks so much!
Please send a short individual email to the Mayor ([email protected]) with CCs to his Climate Policy Chief ([email protected]) & Deputy ([email protected]) about the urgency - the health/justice/economic risks, whatever is important to you - of a warming climate. To make it easier, we have highlighted some key points in the longer letter. There's no need for you to get into the weeds! The point is to make sure the climate issue does not get kicked down the road again, buried under the mass of in-your-face problems that leaders hear about every day. Climate change is still here, still getting worse. Remind him!
Here's a sample short letter to the Mayor on this subject. Use as a template or just write your own heartfelt sentence or two. Just, please, let him hear from you.
Dear Mayor Lurie,
As your constituent, I write to express my strong support for fully funding the Climate Action Plan.
I understand the severe budget restraints you are facing. Our city/county needs to be fiscally responsible, but cutting funds from San Francisco Environment Department risks not achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. SF Environment needs its employees to continue the decarbonization work with community-based organizations; the small investment in essential staffing positions has paid for itself many times over in grant-winning and more. Either we fund the SF Environment Department and Climate Action Plan now, or we will pay for our inaction with much higher costs later. Thank you.
Sincerely,
RESIDENT NAME and ZIP CODE
Thanks so much!
Tell SF Rec & Parks not to add more plastic fields.
District 11 residents - or anyone concerned about keeping toxic fake grass out of parks and playgrounds: There is a plan afoot to cover 3/4 of Crocker Amazon Park in artificial turf. More info here about what you can do about it.
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April 10. Keep up the pressure: We STILL need a real climate bond!
Before and during their meeting yesterday, we wrote and spoke to the Supervisors' Budget & Finance Committee about climate in the Capital Planning Committee's Draft 10-year bond schedule, And they heard us. They did vote for the Capital Plan to advance to the full Board this Tuesday - but they also made it clear that conversations about the detailed features of each bond are far from over. We'll take the win.
By Tues, April 15: Supervisors need to know that you STILL want a climate bond in the Capital Plan 2026-2035
Your recent letters to the Budget & Finance Committee made an impression. Let's keep it up.
Please send another quick letter NOW! This one will go to your own Supervisor, plus the full Board via the Clerk. Send it by tomorrow at noon so that it can be included in the agenda packet - or at least before Tuesday 4/15 so your own Supe sees it. Use our easy letter-writing tool - and thank you!
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By Tues, April 15: Supervisors need to know that you STILL want a climate bond in the Capital Plan 2026-2035
Your recent letters to the Budget & Finance Committee made an impression. Let's keep it up.
Please send another quick letter NOW! This one will go to your own Supervisor, plus the full Board via the Clerk. Send it by tomorrow at noon so that it can be included in the agenda packet - or at least before Tuesday 4/15 so your own Supe sees it. Use our easy letter-writing tool - and thank you!
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April 3. Tell Capital Planning Committee: We STILL need a real climate bond!
San Francisco has declared Climate Month - with a lot of hoopla about reducing our greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions to have a healthier world. Great! Talking the talk is good, but walking the walk is even better.
Wednesday, April 9,10am at City Hall: Budget and Finance Committee reviews the Draft Capital Plan 2026-2035
In the face of federal obstruction, localities must step up. SF urgently needs to electrify transportation and buildings, the two sectors emitting the most GHGs. SF Climate Emergency Coalition - with your help - has been pushing the City for several years to put a bond measure on the ballot to help fund GHG-reduction actions. So far, no response.
Every two years, the Capital Planning Committee updates the schedule of bonds the City will put on the ballot for the next 10 years. We have been asking for a GHG-reduction bond as soon as possible; continued delay will only continue to raise the costs of addressing increasing severity of climate-change catastrophes.
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 10am the Budget and Finance Committee of the Board of Supervisors will meet in Room 250, City Hall. Review of the Draft Capital Plan 2026-2035 is early on the agenda. If you can, please come and make a public comment (some talking points here). Let them know that climate change must be addressed as the crisis that it is; the City needs to fund actions outlined in its own Climate Action Plan - the roadmap to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. Demand that the Supervisors reject the current 10-year bond schedule and revise it to include a bond that addresses the climate crisis (note: calling in comments remotely is no longer allowed). Whether or not you can appear in person, please send a quick letter NOW!Use our easy letter-writing tool; letters to the Supervisors on the committee must be received by tomorrow (Fri 4/4) at noon. Thank you!
Saturday, April 19, 10am - 3pm
Table with SF Climate Emergency Coalition! Or just come by to chat. The festival is part of SF Climate Week.
Wednesday, April 9,10am at City Hall: Budget and Finance Committee reviews the Draft Capital Plan 2026-2035
In the face of federal obstruction, localities must step up. SF urgently needs to electrify transportation and buildings, the two sectors emitting the most GHGs. SF Climate Emergency Coalition - with your help - has been pushing the City for several years to put a bond measure on the ballot to help fund GHG-reduction actions. So far, no response.
Every two years, the Capital Planning Committee updates the schedule of bonds the City will put on the ballot for the next 10 years. We have been asking for a GHG-reduction bond as soon as possible; continued delay will only continue to raise the costs of addressing increasing severity of climate-change catastrophes.
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 10am the Budget and Finance Committee of the Board of Supervisors will meet in Room 250, City Hall. Review of the Draft Capital Plan 2026-2035 is early on the agenda. If you can, please come and make a public comment (some talking points here). Let them know that climate change must be addressed as the crisis that it is; the City needs to fund actions outlined in its own Climate Action Plan - the roadmap to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. Demand that the Supervisors reject the current 10-year bond schedule and revise it to include a bond that addresses the climate crisis (note: calling in comments remotely is no longer allowed). Whether or not you can appear in person, please send a quick letter NOW!Use our easy letter-writing tool; letters to the Supervisors on the committee must be received by tomorrow (Fri 4/4) at noon. Thank you!
Saturday, April 19, 10am - 3pm
Table with SF Climate Emergency Coalition! Or just come by to chat. The festival is part of SF Climate Week.
