About Us

About Us

The Foundation

Since 1990, Generation Green (a 501c3) has sought to inform and encourage environmental action in CCC. The mission of Generation Green is to educate and inspire local residents and stakeholders in Contra Costa County to Reduce Our Impact on the Earth, to Reuse Our Materials, to Respect Our Planet and to empower citizens to implement sustainable actions to reduce our carbon footprint.

In 2007, Generation Green launched the Contra Costa County Climate Leaders Program. 4CL’s first action was a collaboration with ICLEI, to get cities to sign the US Mayors Climate Protection agreement and take up the ICLEI five step process to reduce GHGs.

We are proud to announce that as of September 2012 we have been Green Business Certified by the California Green Business Program. As part of our application we have developed and adopted an Environmental Purchasing Policy.

Acting as executive director, former Moraga Mayor Lynda Deschambault provides project oversight. Funding is provided from corporate donations and grants.

The Project

The mission of the Contra Costa County Climate Leaders Program (4CL) is to help cities take action and reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions in Contra Costa County (CCC). To facilitate regional action, we monitor activities, provide free resources and tools and a multimedia communications strategy that ensures best practices are shared and implemented. Joined by elected officials, paid staff, volunteer advocates and grassroots organizations, we are ALL climate leaders in CCC.

The Purpose

The 19 cities in CCC are some of the fastest growing areas in the Bay Area. It is critical that CCC utilize smart growth opportunities and cities share best practices for many reasons:

The County’s emission rate in tons/person is the highest of all the Bay Area counties.

  • The population is significant in size (1 million as compared to Alameda’s 1.4 million).
  • The growth rate of CCC (8%) is much higher than the other counties and higher than California as a whole (6%).

With the passage of AB32 and SB375 these numbers become significant, and our organization becomes even more important in achieving regional goals.

The Benefits

There are no dues or fees or to use the tools and resources provided. We are all volunteers working for the same cause: to reduce GHG emissions in our cities. We provide the following:

Collaboration opportunities to share best practices

To sign up, please email info@cccclimateleaders.org.user.s1368.sureserver.com.

Board Members

Lynda Deschambault, President & Co-founder

Co-Founder of Generation Green, Lynda holds a dual degree in Chemistry/Soil Science, and an M.B.A. in Management/Marketing. She has more than 37 years of experience as an Environmental Scientist and Educator. The first 21 years of her career was focused on environmental analysis, identifying and informing communities about the concentrations and types of contamination found in soil, water, air and fish tissue. Lynda then made a career shift and spent her next 20 years trying to do something about it. Concentrating on community outreach, inspections, enforcement pollution prevention and environmental cleanup for the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Lynda often focused her efforts on working with schools, tribes and environmental justice communities. She participated in two overseas activities in African third world countries with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). Lynda established EPA Region 9’s first Green Cities Program. Lynda also founded the Contra Costa County Climate Leaders (4CL) Program in 2007, providing outreach tools and assistance to local government decision makers to address climate change. Recognizing that local actions move the world: Lynda also served as an elected official and Mayor to the Town of Moraga. She is currently studying Spanish, meditation and seeking employment opportunities to inspire the next generation to address climate change. In her spare time, she likes to travel, scuba dive, garden, study herbology, and walk her Siberian husky!

Linda Flower, Director

Linda was born in Ann Arbor Michigan to an academic family.  She earned a BS in zoology from the University of Michigan in 1976.  Following graduation, she trained to become a respiratory therapist at the University of Chicago. She worked as a respiratory therapist for five years at hospitals in Michigan and California.  Upon moving to California she pursued a teaching certificate through the Los Angeles Unified School District. She taught high school biology for 10 years at LA Unified while achieving her masters degree in plant eco-physiology At Cal State University Los Angeles.. Linda and her family uprooted to the Bay Area where she continued to teach science. Linda retired after 40 years of work and immediately focused her attention on understanding and mitigating the climate crisis. She completed a Climate Reality Leadership Training program in Miami, started and now partly run by vice president Al Gore.  Since then she has volunteered tirelessly in the community and around the country through climate presentations, speaking up at municipal and state governmental meanings, tabling at climate expo events, etc.

Linda enjoys the outdoors especially when skiing, hiking or running. She lives with her husband in Lafayette, California.

Peggy Hall, Director

Peggy was raised in a family of five kids in a small desert town in Southern California. She started her college career as a Banana Slug at UC Santa Cruz, and went on to receive her BA from Saint Mary’s College. Peggy has owned a tax preparation and planning business for over 35 years with over 500 clients. She is an Enrolled Agent (EA) licensed by the US Treasury.   To become an EA there is a gruelling 4 part test and continuing education requirements every year. Peggy has been very involved in the community. Serving as the local EA board President for two years and on the Board of Directors for many years. Peggy has served 5 years on the Moraga Chamber board of directors and 2 years on the Lion’s club Board of Directors. For several years she serves as the Lamorinda Rep of the Mt Diablo League of Women voters . She also spends a lot of time volunteering for various organizations in many different capacities. One of her favorites: Inner City Outings (ICO) volunteering let’s her take inner city kids hiking, camping and backpacking. Peggy’s current household includes the most wonderful and beautiful cat and dog which entertain her and each other. Her passion is backpacking the great outdoors.

Darby Witherspoon, Director

Darby graduated from the University of Virginia in 2017 with a dual degree in Psychology and Foreign Affairs. After moving to California after graduation to start her job as a Service Coordinator at Crestwood Healing Center, she joined Crestwood’s green team and found that it was a great way for to both work in the field she’s passionate about while also exploring her interests in sustainability and community outreach. After the team discussed how to expand Crestwood’s sustainability efforts to the surrounding community, Darby and her colleague Chloe De Lancie founded Contra Costa County’s Last Plastic Straw. Through their campaign, they’ve worked with businesses in the county as well as sustainability leaders, schools, and community organizations, including city councils, to work toward a plastic straw free Contra Costa. During her free time, Darby can be found rock climbing, playing her guitar, hiking, and cooking.