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Commission affirms commitment to fight climate change, adopts resolution urging continued local action
Summary
The Commission on the Environment unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming San Francisco's climate goals and urging the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to continue bold climate policies after federal rollbacks; commissioners accepted a friendly amendment removing ambiguous language about "carbon as an asset."
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment adopted a resolution March 28 reaffirming the city's climate goals and urging continued local action in response to federal policy changes.
Acting President Elmi Bermejo opened discussion by saying the resolution reasserts San Francisco's long-term greenhouse‑gas targets and the importance of continued leadership. "Science does matter," Bermejo said during the hearing.
The resolution recited the city's greenhouse‑gas targets and referenced the city's climate action strategies and the Paris Agreement. Commissioners debated specific language and accepted a friendly amendment that removed phrasing some members worried could be misread — notably language suggesting treating carbon broadly as an "asset." Wendy Goodfriend, the department's new climate program manager, explained the intent of the carbon-positive wording as referring to soil and regenerative practices rather than carbon trading.
Commissioner Wald moved the resolution; Commissioner Stevenson seconded. After public comment in support, the commission approved the measure by voice vote. The resolution directs staff to continue working across departments and with neighboring jurisdictions to pursue the city's targets and to convey the commission's stance to the Board of Supervisors and the mayor.
What happens next: The commission's resolution will be transmitted to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor; staff said they will continue to pursue interjurisdictional and departmental work to meet local climate goals.
