Tag Archives: City of Sacramento

Video: Climate Justice Mayoral Forum

On Monday, January 22, 2024, the Climate Committee of the League of Women Voters of Sacramento County and a dozen local Sacramento climate action and social justice organizations asked candidates for Sacramento mayor how they would chart a livable climate future for our city. Candidates answered questions about climate and environmental justice and how those issues intersect with transit, housing, public health and more. This was a free virtual event, all welcome. Spanish translation was provided.

You can watch the recording of the forum below.

Participating Sacramento mayoral candidates:

  • Dr. Flojaune Cofer
  • Assemblymember Kevin McCarty
  • Dr. Richard Pan
  • Councilmember Steve Hansen
  • Jose Avina

Co-sponsoring organizations

  • 350 Sacramento
  • California Climate Voters
  • Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS)
  • Fridays for Future Sacramento
  • Indivisible Sacramento
  • SacMoves Coalition
  • Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA)
  • Sacramento Climate Coalition
  • Sacramento Environmental Justice Coalition
  • Sacramento Metro Advocates for Rail and Transit (SMART)
  • Strong SacTown
  • Third Act Sacramento

Campaign for Protecting Natural Areas in the City of Sacramento

January 2024

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) is urging the City to designate a network of natural areas across the eight Council Districts, and to establish a Natural Areas Program to administer the natural areas network. There are numerous examples of commendable natural area programs across cities of the Western United States, and the City of Sacramento could use them as models for establishing a Natural Areas Program tailored to the unique and vibrant natural features, cultures, and ethnicities of the City. Doing so would be consistent with the City’s 2035 General Plan and Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, the City Parks Plan 2040, the California Biodiversity Initiative, and the California 30×30 Initiative.

Click here to learn more (PDF).

2040 General Plan Update: Missing Middle Housing & Maximum Floor Area Ratio

On November 28, 2023, ECOS submitted a letter of support for the City of Sacramento’s proposal for the missing middle housing ordinance as part of the General Plan Update. Below is an excerpt from our letter.

For over 50 years, ECOS has urged our region to increase infill housing as opposed to sprawl development, in order to preserve habitat and make our air healthier to breathe. More recently it has become clear that this is needed to limit greenhouse gas emissions that jeopardize the future of our species, and to deal with our #1 local issue: the lack of affordable housing and concomitant homelessness. For these reasons, ECOS has consistently promoted investment in public transit and light rail, and the development of transit-oriented infill development. Additionally, ECOS recognizes that our past discriminatory housing policy has caused a development pattern that must be adjusted to promote environmental justice and equity.

Click here to read our letter in full.

ECOS Letter re City of Sacramento Draft Climate Action & Adaptation Plan

On August 23, 2023, ECOS submitted a letter regarding the City of Sacramento Draft Climate Action & Adaptation Plan.

Our main comments are as follows:

  • The Plan should be upfront about its financial cost and clearly prioritize City actions according to cost-effectiveness in terms of emissions reductions per dollar.
  • The Plan should address funding for underground infrastructure needed for infill development.
  • The Plan should commit to preserving the Sacramento County Urban Services Boundary, which was put into place in 1993 to prevent greenfield development.

You can view our complete comments in our letter. Click here to read the letter.

We look forward to engaging with the City of Sacramento as the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan advances, in order to help make this plan the best as it can be for the present and future residents of the City of Sacramento.