Welcome to the Yolo County Climate Action & Sustainability Newsletter! We are excited to share updates from our climate action and adaptation planning (CAAP) process, countywide sustainability efforts, upcoming events, and sustainability resources as we work to meet our goal of achieving a carbon negative footprint by 2030.

We are on social media! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates on our CAAP process. Updates on the CAAP process can also be found on our newly launched CAAP Portal at YoloCAAP.org.

If you have resources or events you would like to be featured on the newsletter, submit them via email to sustainability@yolocounty.org for consideration.

🌱 Have you filled out the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan Survey? Provide your input to help the County design future programs, policies and other recommendations to reach our greenhouse gas reduction goals and help our community be more resilient to climate impacts. Complete the survey by September 22, 2023! Link to the survey here: www.YoloCounty.org/CAAPEN (English); www.YoloCounty.org/CAAPES (Spanish); www.YoloCounty.org/CAAPRU (Russian).

🌱 Are you a grower in Yolo County? Take the Working Lands Outreach Survey! In collaboration with the Yolo County Resource Conservation District (RCD), Yolo County has developed a Working Lands Outreach Survey to understand what sustainable strategies local growers currently have in practice, identify those that are feasible, and address challenges to implementation. Participation in this survey is voluntary and responses are anonymous. Click here to access the survey and complete before October 13, 2023!

🌱 Yolo County has been actively engaging the community through various outreach events including the Children’s Storytime at the Esparto Library Branch, the Woodland Farmer’s Market, the Yolo County Library End of Summer Concert, Davis Farmer’s Market Picnic in the Park, and the Yolo County Fair! These events have provided opportunities to connect with a diverse range of community members and encourage engagement in our CAAP process and participation in our 2030 CAAP Survey. 

We’re back! The August YCCAC Meeting is a great opportunity to hear more about our 2030 CAAP and provide your input on critical components of out planning process. Attend in person at 626 Court St, Woodland, CA 95695 or view the Zoom link here to join our monthly meeting virtually. Click to view the Agenda and Meeting Materials.

Attend any of the following events to catch up with the Sustainability Team and hear more about our CAAP process! To view these events as a PDF on our website, click here.

August 28    Yolo County Climate Action Commission (YCCAC) Meeting | 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM | 625 Court St, Woodland, CA 95695

 Join us at the August YCCAC Meeting to hear more about our 2030 Climate Action Plan and provide your input on critical components of our planning process. View the agenda and meeting materials at the top of this email.

August 30  Webinar: Hydrogen's Role in the Clean Energy Economy | 10 AM – 11:30 AM

With both states and the federal government investing heavily in new hydrogen projects, hydrogen has re-emerged as a major topic of debate in climate, energy, and environmental justice circles. There are many unresolved questions about hydrogen, including the definition of green hydrogen, how to get hydrogen where it is needed, and what its appropriate applications are. This webinar will examine the impacts of hydrogen on surrounding communities, the definition of green hydrogen, and appropriate deployment models and end uses for hydrogen as California builds a more equitable, clean energy economy. Click here to register!

September 19  Building a Resilient Yolo Summit | 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM | Davis Veterans Memorial Center 203 E 14^th Street Davis, CA 95616

The Resilient Yolo Summit provides learning and networking opportunities focused on building a more resilient Yolo County. This year’s theme is “Healing Yolo: Connect, Reflect, Act”. Attend for a full day of panels, workshops, and presenters with a focus on health equity, resilience from trauma, and improved community outcomes. Some workshops will be livestreamed to the Resilient Yolo Facebook page.

🌱 Cool Davis is seeking Campaign Coordinator(s) to train and direct volunteers to work with households to reduce household-based greenhouse gas emissions and build resilient neighborhoods. Candidates who want to stretch their professional and technical skills developing model programs with a lasting impact can fill out this simple form to receive application instructions.

🌱 As California experiences more frequent and severe heat waves driven by climate change, Governor Newson launched Heat Ready CA, one of the nation’s first statewide multi-ethnic awareness and education campaigns designed to keep people safe during extreme heat. The campaign is part of the Governor’s Extreme Heat Action Plan to guide the state’s response to heatwaves, ensuring California is reaching vulnerable communities, protecting frontline workers and helping communities stand up cooling centers.

🌱 The Third Annual Small Farm Innovation Challenge kicks off with over $10,000 in prizes! This competition is open to farmers, entrepreneurs, students, and any farm-loving innovators. All you have to do is submit your tech-based solution to help small-scale farmers compete, survive, and thrive. Submissions will be accepted until November 15, 2023!

🌱 Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) has launched a new online database that showcases a variety of funding opportunities for farmers from healthy soils grants, to money for farm-to-school infrastructure, to organic certification cost-sharing programs. Find out how you can tap into a variety of resources to improve your operation and strengthen our local food system!

🌱 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity for up to $575 million to help coastal communities increase their resilience to extreme weather events and impacts from climate change. The program will invest in collaborative, regional approaches to climate resilience, with an emphasis on equity, adaptation, and building long term capacity. The closing date for letters of intent is August 21, 2023.

🌱 The California Air Resources Board has $32.65 million available through the Planning and Capacity Building, Clean Mobility in Schools, and Sustainable Transportation Equity Project programs. Applications are open for community-based organizations, local governments, tribal governments, and public schools to fund planning, clean transportation, and supporting projects that work together to increase transportation equity. Concept Phase applications are due Friday, September 8, 2023.

🌱 Judge rules in favor of Montana youth in landmark climate decision. In the first ruling of its kind nationwide, a Montana state court decided Monday in favor of young people who alleged the state violated their right to a “clean and healthful environment” by promoting the use of fossil fuels. This sweeping win is one of the strongest decisions on climate change ever issued by a court and could energize the environmental movement, ushering a wave of cases aimed at advancing action on climate change.

🌱 Cascading environmental impacts feared from ‘wasteland’ of Maui fires. With charred fauna and coral at risk, experts warn that the ecological fallout from Hawaii’s blazes is just starting. The extent of the damage won’t be known for some time, but experts worry about the impact on native plants and animals that aren’t adapted to thrive with fire.

🌱 This Atlanta duo has a theory to drive climate action: Make it cool. Producer Corey Dennard, more commonly known as Mr. Hanky, is a co-founder of the nonprofit production company Klean Energy Kulture. Their primary mission is to facilitate a transition of Black communities to a clean energy economy. Klean Energy Kulture achieves this mission by combining multimedia cultural campaigns with collaborations involving major brands, artists, and organizations to inspire and engage young adults, particularly in Black communities, to become proactive in taking climate action.

🌱 Trends driving automation on the farm. Farmers must find innovative solutions to navigate economic pressures and the push toward more sustainable practices. Next-generation automation technologies show promise for reducing the impact of farming on climate change and helping growers adapt to its financial impact.

🌱 Transition to Net Zero: Food and Agriculture. Food and agriculture leaders turn to efficiency enhancements, carbon sequestration, and alternative proteins to shift toward green farming practices.