Climate Action Campaign

Climate Action Campaign’s mission is simple: create a zero carbon future through effective and equitable policy action.

Fight Fights | One Lens 

Through the lens of equity and justice, we are fighting for a zero-carbon future with:

Our Story

Climate Action Campaign was founded in San Diego in 2015 by our Executive Director, Nicole Capretz.

Nicole launched Climate Action Campaign to ensure the City of San Diego’s draft landmark Climate Action Plan (CAP) became law, which Nicole authored while working in the Mayor’s office.  

Nicole knew the only way to ensure the plan would pass was to do a bottom-up, neighborhood-by-neighborhood education and outreach program to build community and political will. And that’s exactly what CAC did.

In the span of a single year, CAC sparked a powerful movement and engaged community members who recognized that we need a world with 100% clean energy for all. A broad-based and non-traditional coalition of elected officials, businesses, community planning groups, civic organizations, labor unions, and environmental and social justice organizations emerged, unified behind the trailblazing plan.

It worked. That year, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to slash carbon emissions in half. It was the first legally binding Climate Action Plan committing to 100% clean energy in a major U.S. city. 

Over the next five years, CAC won transformational changes in San Diego County, leading the region to a more sustainable and equitable future. CAC has successfully advocated for the adoption of eight 100% clean energy Climate Action Plans, and three Community Choice Energy programs. 

Now, we have our sights set on a zero carbon future and a San Diego Green New Deal and are engaged in over 20 municipalities across San Diego County and Orange County.   

CAC knows that stopping the climate crisis is possible. To do so, we need experienced advocates at all levels of government to promote relevant, achievable, and legally binding climate policies. Our work is always centered on uniting businesses, communities, and government to effectively pass policies and programs that lead to systemic change that ensures clean air, clean water, and a livable future for everyone.