Sacramento Climate Coalition

Katie Valenzuela and Dr. Flo Speak about the need for a Sacramento Public Bank NOW!

4-29-25 Garden gathering about Sacramento Public Bank, with Dr. Flo and Katie Valenzuela

Kids learning about Nutrition, Ecology and Climate Action!

Awarded a Green House from SMUD’s Shine Awards for a Public School to encourage families to learn to grow a vegetable Gardena home.

2024 Climate Justice Festival: building community!!!

The Sacramento Climate Coalition is a grassroots alliance of 37 Sacramento organizations working to advance the broader movement for civil rights, climate justice and our environment, now and in these crucial years ahead.

Achievements:

1. Climate Emergency Declarations:  

We led the fight with help from our members  to pressure Sacramento City, County, and SMUD to declare a Climate Emergency, recognizing the urgency of our situation and creating a 2030 carbon zero deadline to avoid the worst effects of the coming catastrophe. Our current campaigns aim to hold them accountable to this crucial timeline, in addition to fostering collaboration between the major energy users, and educating the public about the current crisis and what they can do to help our city and County rapidly decarbonize.

2. MOU on Electrification:  We brought together Sacramento City County and SMUD officials to urge them to collaborate on Climate issues such as electrification, climate grants and more. They agreed on a memorandum of  Understanding on Electrification so that we can get off gas appliances which cause health harms and worsen our climate!

3. Formation of a Sac. County Climate Emergency Mobilization Task Force:

Within the Sacramento’s Climate Emergency Declaration process we were able to lead is insisting upon the establishment of a County Emergency Mobilization Task Force tasked with advising the County supervisors with a Climate Emergency Response Plan. We continue to monitor and advise this group so that the County Supervisors can be advised of the most urgent actions needed on Climate!

4. Funding the Needed Climate action and Our Community's Needs

Additionally, our 2023 campaign led to researching and identifying established means from across the US to pay for the rapid decarbonization programs that are needed in our region. We have been successful with the first of these projects by starting the process of building a Sacramento Public Bank as is consistent with AB 857, the California Public Banking Act of 2019 which allows the formation of 10 Public Banks in California.  Through rapid community collaboration locally, within the California Public Banking Alliance, City Council member Valenzuela , City and Banking Manager, Kimberly Gladden we were able to secure City funding to fund a viability and business plan for such a public bank. Due to Budget Shortfall in late 2024, this process was unilaterally suspended suspended by the City Manager whose contract was terminated, so we are meeting with the Mayor in April 2025 to resume the funding

5. Climate Education for Sacramento:

We hold  a large annual Climate Justice Festival to inform our communities and teach Climate Action in a K- 8 public school.