Yesterday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the city's accomplishments in combating climate change post Climate Week NYC, showcasing the metropolis' progression towards a greener tomorrow in a recent press release. While there's much to celebrate with Los Angeles as a forerunner in renewable energy and electric transportation, an array of enemies remain, from extreme weather events to community disparities.
"Just last month, we were faced with a tropical storm in Los Angeles, the first in decades, which was a stark reminder that we must continue to combat the climate crisis," said Mayor Karen Bass. Indeed, the impacts of extreme weather events offer sobering proof that while Los Angeles has come far, the ongoing battle against climate change is far from over.
Efforts have included electrifying the transportation system, with LA launching the first-ever 100% electric full-size street sweeper in the United States, installing Level 2 chargers and Fast Chargers in significant quantities, and seeing over 25% of new cars sold in the county being electric vehicles. Moreover, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) added 18 electric DASH buses across the city, alongside a Request for Proposal for a 100% public EV truck charging depot at the Port of Los Angeles according to the press release.
Initiatives have also been launched to increase energy affordability and promote sustainable building practices. The Comprehensive Affordable Multifamily Retrofits (CAMR) Program was established by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to support low-income, multifamily property owners wanting to expand their energy efficiency and install local solar on their rooftops. Additionally, relaunching the Cool LA program, Zero by Design construction program, and LADWP allocating $4.6 million in community emission reduction grant programs are indicative of Los Angeles' focus on meeting clean energy goals.
Lastly, the LADWP has made strides in working towards 100% clean power, from being the first municipal utility to establish science-based targets for greenhouse gas reduction to applying for $825 million in federal funding for the advancement of clean energy goals. Additionally, Los Angeles' rooftop solar installations have grown significantly and in its quest for fully renewable energy, programs such as the Commercial Energy Storage 2 Grid (CES2G) Pilot and the Green Meadows project in Watts have been initiated as reported by the Mayor's office.
Mayor Karen Bass urges Angelenos to recognize that there is still work ahead, asserting, "There is still much work to be done to ensure we continue to make accelerated progress toward our clean air goals and I look forward to continuing the work with our community stakeholders and elected partners to deliver on the promise of a green Los Angeles." The commitment and achievements thus far are significant, but the truest test of success will lie in Los Angeles' ability to maintain resilience and adapt to an ever-changing world.
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