This is what commitment looks like….Yolo County Climate Action!

For those of us who were in the room for the action by the Yolo County Supervisors in 2019 when they first passed the Climate Emergency resolution, the June meeting of  the Yolo County Climate Action Commission was another milestone!  After completing the Climate Action Plan process last fall, the County is moving forward with creation of the permanent Climate Action Commission and completion and launching of additional programs and initiatives including:  

 

  • The launch of Yolo Energy Partnership programs started in April … see the details here in a previous article!


  • Creation of a permanent Climate Commission

The Yolo County Climate Action Commission is being renewed and will continue to feature representation from across the county with key experts advising the supervisors. The commission will be a little smaller and nimbler and work to support the implementation of the CAAP along with the emerging Yolo Climate Resilience Collaborative. 

 

  • Moving Sustainability Division to the County Administrators Office

With a new county administrator and committed supervisors the Sustainability division will be moving in this fiscal year to the County Administrators office.  This will help enhance decisionmaking across departments and empower staff to build upon their internal and external collaborations!

 

  • Finalizing new CAAP Implementation Equity Tool Kit 

While other places are shying away from the focus on equity and inclusion Yolo County is finishing its processes to institutionalize attention to equity and environmental justice in its decision-making going forward!  The details of the tool kit were covered here in last month’s Commission meeting materials (Attachment D).

 

But finally beyond the goals and words – it’s committing the resources that counts!  Originally setting aside $2 million for the Commission, CAAP and action projects, the county just allocated the remaining funds to projects proposed by local organizations to address actions called for in the CAAP. 

 

“Yolo County Community Climate Action Fund, a new initiative supporting community-driven projects that advance the goals of the county’s ambitious Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). A total of $171,240 has been awarded to eight community-based organizations whose projects will help promote climate resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve the health and well-being of Yolo County residents. Selected projects represent a diverse range of resilience strategies from habitat restoration and waste diversion to food recovery, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness. Awarded organizations and projects include:

  • De Colores Resource Center – Yolo Farmworker Partnership/Alianza Campesina de Yolo 
  • Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano – Prepared Together: Community‑Centered Disaster Education for Yolo County 
  • Center for Land-Based Learning – Yolo County Carbon Farm Partnership (YCCFP) Implementation Project 
  • Yolo County Resource Conservation District – Yolo Carbon Farm Partnership Project Implementation 
  • Breathe California Sacramento Region – SacBreathe Food Scraps & Recycling in Schools 
  • Yolo Arts Council on behalf of YoloSol – West Yolo Wetland Restoration Education Project 
  • Yolo Food Bank – Yolo Food Bank Harvest Program Expansion and Internship 
  • Davis Bike Campaign – Teaching Bicycling to Kindergarteners 

 …more from Yolo County Press Release.

 

Congratulations to the County Board of Supervisors, Kristen Wraithwall Sustainability Manager and staff, the Yolo County Climate Action Commissioners, and especially their fearless Chair NJ Mvondo and the many committed agency staff, community groups, volunteers and organizations supporting this work!  This is what community climate action looks like! Â