Thank you for attending Santa Monica Climate Resiliency: Designing Strategies For Next 30+Years on September 11th!
This event is part of Sustainable September and the City of Santa Monica’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Sustainable City Plan and the long-standing commitment to enhancing our resources, preventing harm to the natural environment and human health, and benefiting the social and economic well-being of the community for the sake of current and future generations.
The event began with a small group tour of the Santa Monica Beach Restoration Project followed by small bites and networking. We then had an amazing panel discussion with Tom Ford, The Bay Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Sunny Wang, Water Resources Manager at the City of Santa Monica and Evelin Weber, Malibu Foundation’s Executive Director and co-founder. The panel was moderated by Bonny Bentzin, UCLA’s Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer.
As always, our goal is to educate and follow that education up with action. Here are action items you can take to help you become more climate resilient. Please make a commitment to do something and share it with us; Post on Sustainable Works Facebook Wall, Tweet with our handle @sustainablework, connect at #sustainablesm or send us an email gina.garcia@sustainableworks.org
Take Action
1. Prepare for an emergency: Review and update emergency response plans, and practice the 4 Cs: communicate, coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate. Get disaster and relief information at the following resources:
• www.santamonica.gov
• SMAlerts text notifications by enrolling at www.santamonica.gov/alerts
• Santa Monica social media pages
• 1680 AM radio station
2. Volunteer for or join a community group for support and to restore and protect our ecosystems. For example, the SM Beach Dune Restoration Project or Microforests.
3. Plant or preserve native trees and plants around your home. Increase tree canopy to reduce extreme heat impacts. https://www.themalibufoundation.org/california-native-guide#socal
4. Conserve water: Replace old fixtures with high-efficiency ones, check for leaks, use drip irrigation, replace lawns and parkways with drought-tolerant plants and sign up for a free water use consultation at https://www.smgov.net/Departments/OSE/Categories/Water/Water_Saving_Consultations.aspx
5. Collect water: install a rain barrel, cistern or rock garden. For information of rain barrel rebates visit https://www.rainwatersolutions.com/blogs/news/6843974-santa-monica-ca-rain-barel-rebate#:~:text=City%20of%20Santa%20Monica%20Rain,e.
6. Clear brush that could be a fire hazard. Find more on Fire Department Brush Clearance Standards at
• Fire Hazard Reduction Programs – Fire (lacounty.gov)
• View your Parcel for Brush Clearance Status | Los Angeles Fire Department (lafd.org)
7. Walk, bike, or take public transit. You can also switch to an electric vehicle or carpool.
8. Put a rooftop garden on multi-family houses and businesses
9. Add solar and energy storage to your home or business
10. Conserve energy during Flex Alerts and Extreme Heat Days Flex Alert: energy conservation tips, save energy on high demand days in California
11. Have a plan for extreme weather events, such as having a place to go with air-conditioning during heat events
Photos by Kathleen Murphy Photography
