The issue of climate change for a city like Richmond is important because of its impact not only on our shoreline but also in the economic opportunities the solutions provide. To work ourselves out of this situation we will need a new economic paradigm and a workforce focused on green jobs-I’m excited to be a part of this kind of change.
Gayle McLaughlin, Mayor Richmond, California
Richmond Accomplishments:
- Participated in a postcard Saturation Campaign to promote comprehensive audits services for small commercial businesses.
- Sixty-six acres at Breuner Marsh in Point Pinole Regional Park will be restored and have public access due to $1 million of federal grants and $1.4 million from the local park district match.
- Ranked number one for installing the most watts per capita of new solar energy in 2009. Residents and businesses installed about 34.7 watts per capita!
- Joined Green Cities California, a coalition of California cities working locally on global sustainability.
- Supports CaliforniaFIRST
- Offering curbside pick-up of residential compostable food scraps.
- Developing a Bicycle Master Plan in 2010. It will focus on projects to build the bicycle network and encourage bicycling for recreational and commuter trips.
- RichmondBUILD Program: Solar Installation Training Program
- GHG Reduction targets are set and match the requirements of AB 32
- Climate Change education on City website
- East Bay Green Corridor Partnership
- City Green Team
- Encouragement of Green Business
- Green Building Ordinance in Progress. Education materials available on website.
- Environmental Preferential Purchasing Policy
- Amplified networking circle by signing onto the Urban Environmental Accords
- Community Wide and Municipal GHG Inventory completed. View the March 3, 2009 presentation to City Council.
- Signed the US Mayors climate Protection Agreement
- Joined ICLEI‘s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign (www.iclei-usa.org).
- City of Richmond Website