Climate Change Initiative

The San Diego region has an enviable lifestyle and economy, and a magnificent natural environment – and much of it is because of our climate. Our climate, however, is changing due to a build up of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Left unchecked, climate change will have devastating consequences for our region. Through sensible adjustments we can maintain San Diego’s lifestyle and protect our treasured climate for future generations.

The Climate Change Initiative supports efforts to deepen community awareness about the local impacts of climate change and spur regional action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Over the next few years, The San Diego Foundation will work with government, business, and consumers to advance regional efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate change in order to avoid some of its most harmful effects.

We will provide leadership, partnership and support, including up to $1 million in grants for a wide range of local actions in the following six areas:

Six Strategies to Address Climate Change in the San Diego Region:

1. Increase public awareness and support for local climate action
   The San Diego Foundation created the Climate Smart partnership with other leading local institutions -- the California Center for Sustainable Energy, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Natural History Museum, and Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography -- to raise the profile of local lecture series, exhibits, rebate and incentive programs, and other efforts to increase public awareness and galvanize local action around climate change.
   
   
2. Support and disseminate research, especially information about local mitigation and adaptation measures. Climate change is best addressed on the basis of solid scientific information about causes and effects. The San Diego Foundation will support research that will assist local organizations and individuals to understand what measures are appropriate to: (a) help stabilize greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation); and (b) reduce the worst impacts of climate change that are the result of past emissions and to enable communities to recover from those impacts (adaptation).
   
   
3. Partner with local governments to address climate change through local action.
   The Foundation will work with municipalities, the San Diego Association of Governments, the County of San Diego, tribal governments, and other public entities to develop climate plans for their communities and to assess their effectiveness over time.
   
   
4. Support nonprofit organizations that will lead in addressing climate change; assist other nonprofits to see how they can help. The Foundation will support local nonprofit organizations to develop and deploy their own actions to address climate change.
   
   
5. Develop and support positive local economic strategies. Local actions hold significant promise for new job creation in fields such as green chemistry, materials recycling, retrofitting buildings, and many more. The Foundation will work with the local business community to advance greater use of renewables and other green practices, such as green building, reduced energy use and waste, green procurement policies, and telecommuting.
   
   
6. Engage donors to contribute to climate action solutions. Rarely in history has an issue caught the attention of people across all income, geographic, and philosophical outlooks as has global climate change. We will work with current donors and potential donors to understand how they can contribute to solving one of the most serious problems facing this and future generations.
   

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