San Leandro Wildfires: How Can We Reduce Our Risk? 

Youth Voices: Greening Our City
 

The author, Joie Fong, was one of the San Leandro HS students participating in our online community Open Houses. Here she reflects on some of her takeaways from the session.
 

How can we green our city, what can you do to help? Most of us contribute to climate change in our everyday lives because so many of our routines involve the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels pollute the environment, leading to health risks and the type of natural disasters caused by climate change such as wildfires and flooding. Here at San Leandro 2050, our vision is to eliminate San Leandro’s carbon footprint, focusing first on the neighborhoods most impacted by pollution. Together, we can change the way San Leandro handles the things contributing to climate change, increasing environmental sustainability while reducing the hazardous pollutants that impact residents’ health every day. [Keep Reading]

San Leandro 2050 is Hosting a Free Tree Program! 
 

Get a free tree to help cool our city, reduce carbon emissions, and beautify your neighborhood! See below for details.

Note: Due to the recent drought, the city is holding off on planting trees until the next rainy season. You can still reserve a tree though! Email trees@sanleandro2050.org for more information if you are interested in receiving a free tree. You can also read more about our program on our website.

In CLIMATE NEWS
Newsom Misled the Public About Wildfire Prevention Efforts Ahead of Worst Fire Season on Record Via Cap Radio
Amidst numerous overstatements about forest wildfire prevention treatments and a slashing of the wildfire prevention budget in an era of record fire seasons, Governor Newsom's initial promises of combatting the effects of climate change have yet to be fulfilled. 

California's New Summer Normal: Via East Bay Times
Heat waves & droughts caused by climate change have resulted in a call from California officials to conserve water due to shrinking water reservoirs, and to use less electricity to avoid blackouts. This call to adapt a new lifestyle for the summer may become the new norm. 
 

IN AIR POLLUTION
Trucks are Banned on Oakland's I-580. These Sixth Graders Wondered Why: Via KQED
East Oakland middle schoolers are drawing connections between poor health in their community & the air pollution they're surrounded by - in particular, air pollution caused by trucks running along I-880 and through Oakland's flatland neighborhoods, a result of an age old truck ban on I-580 tracing back to racial & class divide. 

The Pandemic Led to Unprecedented Declines in Carbon Emissions. But That's Over Now: Via KQED
The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic saw a sharp decline in vehicle activity due to stay-at-home orders and as a result, historic drops in greenhouse gas emissions & smog. With lifting restrictions & increased delivery services however, the effects of this are reversing. 
 

IN CLIMATE EQUITY
Since When Have Trees Existed Only For Rich Americans?: Via The New York Times
Healthy tree coverage in urban areas is linked to improved health of those around, serve as buffers to extreme heat, and overall is beneficial to the surrounding neighborhood. However, there is a clear disparity in tree coverage rates between richer & lower-income neighborhoods today that traces back to historic redlining practices. 

In California, Extreme Heat and Ozone Pollution Hit Poor Communities Hardest: Via National Geographic
The combination of extreme heat with ozone & fine particulate polluted air makes breathing difficult, even for people with healthy lungs. Looking into areas of California affected by this as the weather heats up, it becomes clear that poor, non-white neighborhoods are the ones that suffer the most from this.