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SLO Climate Solutions Series – Climate Action that Works for Us

Join the conversation.

Person Holding a Crystal Ball Showing Future Years Inside

What policies can we implement on the Central Coast to deal effectively with the climate crisis and how might they affect our daily lives? Come find out.

Some of the things that keep climate action policy decision makers awake at night are questions such as “Which policies will be most effective?” “How much will it cost to implement these policies?” “How do we make sure these policies will benefit the people who live, work, and visit here?”

The second installment in the SLO Climate Solutions Series is intended to be an inclusive discussion addressing the effectiveness and benefits of potential policies.

In San Luis Obispo County, our policy decision makers are mayors, city council members, county supervisors, commissioners, and government agency staff members. These people are responsible for deciding which policies could work best and implementing those policies on behalf of approximately 285,000 people who live here. This is a heavy responsibility.

We can help.

Policymakers do not have crystal balls (at least not that I know of), so they need us to share our concerns and priorities: which things are important to us, as well as our big and small ideas.

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old but on building the new.”

—Socrates

SLO Climate Solutions Series II

At this event, you will have an opportunity to talk with representatives from several community groups during the opening reception. Then you can attend a presentation by energy analyst and policy expert, Hal Harvey. After his talk, Hal will engage with the community group leaders as they ask questions and voice their concerns and priorities.

Event Information

SLO Solutions Series II - Climate Action that Works for Us Flyer

This free event is open to the public.

Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: MINDBODY at 651 Tank Farm Rd. in San Luis Obispo
Parking: Please park on the top level of the parking garage and then head for the event center. Parking is free.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact our hardworking leader for this event: Francisco Pares at fpares@civicspark.lgc.org.

Reception

When you arrive at the event center, grab a drink and a bite to eat. Then take a few minutes to talk with representatives of the community groups that are participating in the event.

After brief opening remarks from Chris Read, the City of San Luis Obispo Sustainability Manager, and Eric Veium, Chair of the SLO Climate Coalition, take a seat for Hal Harvey’s presentation.

Keynote Speaker – Hal Harvey

Hal Harvey

Hal Harvey is the CEO of Energy Innovation, a San Francisco-based energy and environmental policy firm. He works with policymakers around the world and across a range of jurisdictions to help inform their energy policy decisions.

He also founded and has been involved in a number of philanthropic organizations supporting policy solutions that advance renewable energy and energy efficiency. Hal has served on energy panels for two presidents. He is the author of two books and dozens of articles on energy and national security issues.

I just finished reading Hal’s book Designing Climate Solutions: A Policy Guide for Low-Carbon Energy.

Designing Climate Solutions Book Cover

The book offers practical advice on evaluating climate action policies and things to think about before implementing them. It also addresses social equity and the importance of considering the potential benefits to society and how such policies might affect people’s daily lives.

Dave Roberts at Vox did an excellent review of the book and an interview with Hal. Click here to read it.

Community Leader Forum

After Hal Harvey’s presentation, leaders from several community organizations will have an opportunity to interact with Hal. They will ask questions and share the concerns and priorities of their organizations related to climate action policies.

As of the writing of this post, the following organizations have agreed to participate.

Lideres Campesinas Logo

Líderes Campesinas develops leadership among campesinas (farm working women) to serve as agents of political, social, and economic change in the farm worker community. They accomplish this through advocacy, education, outreach, art, and theatrical presentations.

Gay and Lesbian Alliance of the Central Coast (GALA)

GALA brings people together to promote the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ community members through education, support, recreation, advocacy, and partnerships. Their vision is to have a healthy LGBTQ+ community that is respected, embraced by, and of value to the broader Central Coast community.

SLO County Youth for Environmental Action Logo

SLO County Youth for Environmental Action empowers and amplifies the youth voice for action on environmental justice in San Luis Obispo County. SLOCYEA (“slow-see-ya”) is made up of high school students, college students, young adults, and other young people from around the county.

R.A.C.E. Matters Logo

R.A.C.E Matters is working to transform our community by providing engaging and challenging anti-racist education that centers on the lived experiences of people of color. Their vision is to positively impact our community so that people of color feel welcome, respected, and safe.

Food and Water Watch Logo

Food & Water Watch works with local California communities and a broad range of environmental and social justice groups statewide to ban fracking and other destructive oil and gas drilling, and to stop corporations from controlling and exploiting our water and agriculture.

Peoples Self Help Housing Logo

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing builds affordable homes that offer opportunities to change lives and strengthen communities on California’s Central Coast. They serve low-income working families, farm workers, seniors, and veterans as well as providing welcoming environments for those living with disabilities and the formerly homeless.

We hope you will join us on June 25 so we can work collectively on climate action policies that will work for all of us.

“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.”

—Dolores Huerta

Top Photo Credit: Person holding a crystal ball with future years shown inside – photo credit iStock/shutter_m

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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.

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