Climate Change is already underway. Many of its impacts can be experienced now, and some are already unavoidable. There are ways in which we can and must prepare to reduce the worst of these impacts. They include the consequences of intensifying sea level rise, wildfire, storms, drought, and heat waves.
Our position statements on key issues included below:
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On February 27, 2012, a full house attended Sustainable San Rafael’s “Hell and High Water” event to hear author Mark Hertsgaard discuss local adaptation to climate change and his book, Hot, Living Through the Next Fifty Years on Earth.
Listen to Mark discuss the two paths we must walk. First, we must find ways to “Manage the unavoidable” - dealing with temperature increase and sea level rise of 3 to 6 feet which is locked-in by carbon already in the atmosphere. Second, we must find the political will to achieve massive reductions in future carbon emissions to “Avoid the unmanageable” – temperature increases and sea level rise so great they would end life as we know it. |
Sea level rise-grand Jury Report
August 19, 2024
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Sea Level Rise - Grand Jury Report
In this letter, Sustainable San Rafael acknowledges and applauds the City's leadership in initiating responses to sea level rise, starting with the highly vulnerable Canal neighborhood.
We go on to reiterate that, in all these efforts, it's crucial to recognize that sea level rise and other climate impacts will only be curbed by transitioning off fossil fuels and by capturing excess atmospheric carbon. For San Rafael, that means cutting greenhouse gas by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, replacing gas furnaces and water heaters with electric heat pumps, diverting organic material from the landfill, and increasing carbon sequestration in Marin's grasslands and urban forests.
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Sea Level Rise - Grand Jury Report
In this letter, Sustainable San Rafael acknowledges and applauds the City's leadership in initiating responses to sea level rise, starting with the highly vulnerable Canal neighborhood.
We go on to reiterate that, in all these efforts, it's crucial to recognize that sea level rise and other climate impacts will only be curbed by transitioning off fossil fuels and by capturing excess atmospheric carbon. For San Rafael, that means cutting greenhouse gas by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, replacing gas furnaces and water heaters with electric heat pumps, diverting organic material from the landfill, and increasing carbon sequestration in Marin's grasslands and urban forests.
ssr_letter_on_sea_level_rise-2024-08.pdf | |
File Size: | 60 kb |
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Canal Resilience Planning
November 21, 2022
To: The Mayor and San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Canal Resilience Planning
San Rafael is demonstrating clear foresight and leadership in developing a comprehensive framework to plan for sea level rise and related climate impacts in the Canal Neighborhood taking account of a citizen-based process. The Canal is among the Bay Area communities most vulnerable to sea level rise as well as other environmental justice challenges. Weighing multiple priorities and listening to diverse voices will be essential to success. The waterfront setting also provides a potential asset for economic development, innovative housing solutions. We hope that pragmatic and resilient measures can be combined with measure to lessen greenhouse gases that are worsening these climate impacts.
Sustainable San Rafael looks forward to participating in the planning process.
To: The Mayor and San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Canal Resilience Planning
San Rafael is demonstrating clear foresight and leadership in developing a comprehensive framework to plan for sea level rise and related climate impacts in the Canal Neighborhood taking account of a citizen-based process. The Canal is among the Bay Area communities most vulnerable to sea level rise as well as other environmental justice challenges. Weighing multiple priorities and listening to diverse voices will be essential to success. The waterfront setting also provides a potential asset for economic development, innovative housing solutions. We hope that pragmatic and resilient measures can be combined with measure to lessen greenhouse gases that are worsening these climate impacts.
Sustainable San Rafael looks forward to participating in the planning process.
canal_resilience_planning_ssr__letter_11_21_22.pdf | |
File Size: | 90 kb |
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Wood roof replacement
May 16, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Wood Roof Replacement
The letter thanks the City officials for moving forward with the requirements to replace flammable wood roofs with more resistant materials. WE encourage the City to prioritize additional home hardening steps and incentives to protect structures from wildfires brought on by accelerating climate change, while also maintaining healthy, firesafe and carbon-sequestering landscapes around the structures.
The letter requests the City augment communications with property owners and provides specific recommendations about suggestions for the roof replacements.
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Wood Roof Replacement
The letter thanks the City officials for moving forward with the requirements to replace flammable wood roofs with more resistant materials. WE encourage the City to prioritize additional home hardening steps and incentives to protect structures from wildfires brought on by accelerating climate change, while also maintaining healthy, firesafe and carbon-sequestering landscapes around the structures.
The letter requests the City augment communications with property owners and provides specific recommendations about suggestions for the roof replacements.
ssr_on_wood_roof_replacement.pdf | |
File Size: | 73 kb |
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Potential Moratorium on Housing Water Hookups
June 14, 2021
To: Board of Directors, Marin Municipal Water District
From: Sustainable San Rafael
re: Potential Moratorium on Housing Water Hookups
A letter to the Marin Municipal Water District on the proposed moratorium on water hookups. The letter emphasizes the impact of such a moratorium on the exacerbation of the housing crisis, and the related challenge of hiring workers who can live in Marin and homelessness. We don't believe the ban will reduce water usage as new units are build with water-efficiency. The number of new units would also be an inconsequential increase in overall customers. We urge the board to defer the ban until it has explored other options many of which are suggested in this letter.
To: Board of Directors, Marin Municipal Water District
From: Sustainable San Rafael
re: Potential Moratorium on Housing Water Hookups
A letter to the Marin Municipal Water District on the proposed moratorium on water hookups. The letter emphasizes the impact of such a moratorium on the exacerbation of the housing crisis, and the related challenge of hiring workers who can live in Marin and homelessness. We don't believe the ban will reduce water usage as new units are build with water-efficiency. The number of new units would also be an inconsequential increase in overall customers. We urge the board to defer the ban until it has explored other options many of which are suggested in this letter.
ssr_to_mmwd_6_12_21.pdf | |
File Size: | 90 kb |
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Vegetation Management Ordinance Amendment
February 1, 2021
To: the Honorable Mayor San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Vegetation Management Ordinance Amendment
Sustainable San Rafael supports applying the Vegetation Management Ordinance throughout San Rafael with some clarification to in the revised ordinance to avoid unnecessary removal of plants. The recommendations include clarifying "combustible vegetation," simplification of certain language as well as clarification that "appropriate defensible space does not require or advocate the clear cutting of trees and brush, but rather horizonal and vertical spacing and maintenance.
To: the Honorable Mayor San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Vegetation Management Ordinance Amendment
Sustainable San Rafael supports applying the Vegetation Management Ordinance throughout San Rafael with some clarification to in the revised ordinance to avoid unnecessary removal of plants. The recommendations include clarifying "combustible vegetation," simplification of certain language as well as clarification that "appropriate defensible space does not require or advocate the clear cutting of trees and brush, but rather horizonal and vertical spacing and maintenance.
ssr_cc_vegetation_management_letter_2_1_21.pdf | |
File Size: | 110 kb |
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Marin Grand Jury Report on Climate Change
November 16, 2020
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Marin Grand Jury Report on Climate Change
Sustainable San Rafael supports the City's further analysis of the Marin Grand Jury's recommended countywide task force on climate resilience and strengthening of Marin Climate Energy Partnership. The letter appreciates the emphasis on the following key points in the staff report: 1) continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is critical to climate mitigation, 2) the importance of Drawdown Marin (now MarinCan) in offering a comprehensive countywide framework for reaching net zero GHG emissions, 3) we have effective models, organizations and fiscally, for confronting the climate crisis.
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Marin Grand Jury Report on Climate Change
Sustainable San Rafael supports the City's further analysis of the Marin Grand Jury's recommended countywide task force on climate resilience and strengthening of Marin Climate Energy Partnership. The letter appreciates the emphasis on the following key points in the staff report: 1) continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is critical to climate mitigation, 2) the importance of Drawdown Marin (now MarinCan) in offering a comprehensive countywide framework for reaching net zero GHG emissions, 3) we have effective models, organizations and fiscally, for confronting the climate crisis.
11_16_20_ssr_grand_jury_response_letter.pdf | |
File Size: | 73 kb |
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Revised Wildfire Protection Action Plan
August 3, 2020
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Revised Wildfire Protection Action Plan (item 5a)
The letter reiterates the organization's earlier letter on the Wildfire Action Plan, stressing the importance of including ecologically sounds practices for vegetation management and home 'hardening' and disposal of plant material (biomass) in ways that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and optimize carbon sequestration.
Sustainable San Rafael is pleased to note that Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority is taking tangible steps to address these concerns by joining with several climate and environmental organizations to help guide its activities. In addition, Drawdown Marin (now MarinCAN) has endorsed a Biomass Recovery effort to identify climate-responsible ways to manage increasing amounts of organize material being generated by both wildfire prevention activities and curbside collection programs.
The organization is heartened to see involvement of key San Rafael staff and encourage the integration of these 'best practices' into the City's wildfire prevention and protection program.
To: San Rafael City Council
From: Sustainable San Rafael
Re: Revised Wildfire Protection Action Plan (item 5a)
The letter reiterates the organization's earlier letter on the Wildfire Action Plan, stressing the importance of including ecologically sounds practices for vegetation management and home 'hardening' and disposal of plant material (biomass) in ways that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and optimize carbon sequestration.
Sustainable San Rafael is pleased to note that Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority is taking tangible steps to address these concerns by joining with several climate and environmental organizations to help guide its activities. In addition, Drawdown Marin (now MarinCAN) has endorsed a Biomass Recovery effort to identify climate-responsible ways to manage increasing amounts of organize material being generated by both wildfire prevention activities and curbside collection programs.
The organization is heartened to see involvement of key San Rafael staff and encourage the integration of these 'best practices' into the City's wildfire prevention and protection program.
ssr_letter_on_revised_wildfire_action_plan.pdf | |
File Size: | 99 kb |
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