Supervisors hear $11M short‑term request to begin funding San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan

San Francisco’s Department of the Environment told the Board of Supervisors on June 8 that it needs immediate funding to begin implementing the 2021 Climate Action Plan and to position the city to compete for federal climate grants.

Acting Director Tyrone Joo and Climate Program Manager Cindy Comerford outlined a short‑term two‑year request of $11 million to hire staff, backfill work orders, provide community grants and incentives, and fund a Climate Equity Hub to prioritize investments in BIPOC and low‑income communities. The department said about 90% of city greenhouse‑gas emissions come from buildings and transportation, but much of its current revenue is legally constrained — for example, Recology‑related fees account for a large share of the department’s budget and can only be used for zero‑waste programs.

Joo warned that delays in funding lock in fossil‑fuel assets (for example, boilers that run 20–25 years) and make later decarbonization more expensive. The department also said it currently lacks staff capacity to prepare and pursue major federal grants that are expected during the coming years.

Supervisor Gordon Mar and others pressed the department to spell out equity impacts. Comerford said the plan includes a racial‑equity assessment for every strategy and proposed a Climate Equity Hub as a one‑stop shop for residential electrification assistance for low‑income, BIPOC communities. Public commenters representing environmental groups, neighborhood residents and climate coalitions urged the board to restore the $11 million to the budget, arguing funding now is far less costly than delayed action.

The committee filed the hearing record and discussed options for reallocating existing city funds or restoring budget items (including conversations about SFPUC budget adjustments). No appropriation was adopted; department officials said they will continue to work with supervisors to identify funding paths.