What does OCAC mean in CLIMATE

The Oakland Climate Action Coalition (OCAC) is a coalition of local community organizations, businesses, faith-based groups, and individuals committed to advancing equitable climate solutions in Oakland. We work in partnership with Oakland city government to advocate for effective climate policies that prioritize Environmental Justice.

There are many ways you can get involved! You can join one of our committees or working groups, volunteer at our events or campaigns, or just stay informed by signing up for updates on our website. Visit www.oaklandclimateaction.org for more information!

OCAC has made significant progress in advancing bold climate action in Oakland since we started in 2013. We have secured funding for multiple energy efficiency projects throughout the city and led efforts to create new green infrastructure including bike lanes and parks. We have also worked with City Council to pass multiple pieces of legislation such as the 2016 Climate Action Plan and the 2017 Green Building Ordinance that set aggressive targets for emissions reduction.

Absolutely! We value input from all members of the community when developing new climate initiatives and strategies. One way to provide input is through attending public workshops hosted by OCAC or other community organizations where we discuss ideas and solutions around climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts here in Oakland. Additionally, our website provides regular updates about upcoming meetings where you can provide your comments or questions directly to OCAC staff or representatives from other organizations leading this work.

Currently, our main focus is advocating for equitable clean energy policies that benefit low income communities and communities of color who suffer most from environmental pollution and energy poverty. To this end, we are pushing forward several large-scale initiatives such as launching a Community Solar Program, strengthening building energy efficiency standards across the city, incentivizing green transportation options through bike-share programs, installing solar panels on public buildings across Oakland, and expanding stormwater capture systems throughout the East Bay region.

Environmental justice is an essential component of any comprehensive strategy to address climate change because historically marginalized communities often bear a disproportionate burden of environmental impacts due to systemic inequality. Therefore it's important to ensure that all communities have access to clean air, water, healthy food sources - regardless of race or income level - when creating solutions around sustainability and emissions reduction. At OCAC we believe fighting racism should be at the forefront of every decision we make when formulating plans around climate change mitigation & adaptation initiatives within the City of Oakland.

Yes - unfortunately issues like poverty rates and affordable housing availability play a major role in determining which neighborhoods will be targeted first for interventions regarding emissions reduction efforts such as renewable energy projects or green infrastructure implementation initiatives. This means that even if one area may need help reducing their GHG emissions quicker than another area based off air quality measurements alone – those same areas may not receive assistance if they come from lower income households who cannot benefit from such interventions due lack of access.

Of course! Our website offers energy efficiency tips on how individuals can reduce their personal carbon footprint without having to pay hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars on expensive upgrades like adding insulation or investing in solar panels. Additionally, we offer educational workshops tailored towards helping households understand their current energy consumption levels, explore different opportunities for saving money on utility bills, evaluate financial incentives offered through their state & local governments, etc… So yes – there are plenty resources out there available right now!