On August 11, leading climate organizations, elected officials, candidates and local activists stood knee deep in the waters of Mission Bay to demonstrate the effects the climate crisis will have locally and launch the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge. The initiative aims to end the fossil fuel industry’s anti-climate agenda while celebrating and providing transparency regarding where organizations, elected officials and candidates receive funding. Those who take the pledge agree to not accept any fossil fuel money as part of their commitment to an equitable and climate safe future.  Speakers at the event included Carlsbad Councilmember Priya Bhat-Patel, candidate Tommy Hough and representatives with San Diego Coastkeeper, SanDiego350’s Youth4Climate, CleanEarth4Kids, Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation and San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition. Additional attendees included Surfrider San Diego, SD-SEQUEL, candidate Georgette Gòmez and other climate activists. 

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It’s no secret that fossil fuel companies give funding to nonprofits and elected officials, and activists note that allegiance is often expected in return for those funds. Some nonprofit organizations that have accepted fossil fuel money have publicly supported a fossil fuel company’s anti-climate initiative, even when the initiative conflicts with the organizations’ mission, values and hurts the communities being served by the nonprofit. Fossil fuel companies have also invested billion of dollars to support elected officials and candidates who will vote for policies and laws that continue to benefit polluters. 

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Locally, two big fossil fuel corporations contributing funds to nonprofit organizations and candidate campaigns are San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and its parent company, Sempra Energy. SDG&E touts its renewable energy content in its state-mandated renewable portfolio standard program, although Voice of San Diego reported last year that SDG&E Walks Back Claim it Delivers 45 Percent Renewable Energy, citing only 31 percent of energy San Diegans consume is zero carbon. While SDG&E claims to support clean energy, their net energy metering proposal at the California Public Utilities Commission would erode the economics of rooftop solar, making solar out of reach for many Californians while setting what activists say is a dangerous nationwide precedent to rely on dirty energy for a longer period of time. If SDG&E’s net metering proposal is adopted, it would also lessen the benefits that the City of San Diego’s new Solar Equity Program has for San Diegans in communities of concern. Meanwhile Sempra Energy sold off renewable assets and continues to invest heavily in fossil fuels, primarily fracked gas, which accelerates the climate crisis and contributes to various climate injustices in California. 

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“You cannot buy my destruction. You cannot pay to poison my children. You cannot pay to poison my communities,” said Yusef Miller, a board member of CleanEarth4Kids and a NAACP North County leader, in a passionate message to the local fossil fuel company SDG&E. Miller’s high school aged son also spoke at the event.  

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With the climate crisis worsening, scientists, leaders and climate activists say it is now more urgent than ever to end our reliance on fossil fuels. Divesting from fossil fuel support and standing behind companies that prioritize clean energy, green jobs and communities of concern has never been more critical. In fact, earlier this year, the San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors made the unanimous decision to divest from fossil fuel companies. This allows the County to invest its money in companies that do not detrimentally impact the environment and accelerate the climate crisis.

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"The fossil fuel industry has invested millions of dollars towards campaign contributions, organizations and front groups to ensure billions of dollars in subsidies and laws that benefit polluters,” said Karinna Gonzalez, Climate Justice Policy Manager with Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation. “The Fossil Fuel Free Pledge is starting here in San Diego, and it will cut off the fossil fuel industry’s influence so that we can make meaningful progress towards a just and livable future."

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Fossil Fuel Free pledgees include SanDiego350, Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation, Bike San Diego, San Diego Coastkeeper, Surfrider San Diego, San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition, CleanEarth4Kids, Democratic Socialists of America San Diego, North County Climate Change Alliance, SD-SEQUEL, San Diego Bike Coalition, South Bay Sustainable Communities, Climate Reality Project San Diego, Environmental Center of San Diego, University Christian Church, City of San Diego Councilmember Monica Montgomery Steppe, Carlsbad City Councilmember Priya Bhat-Patel and candidates Tommy Hough, Georgette Gómez, Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson and Cody Petterson. All local elected officials, candidates and nonprofit organizations are invited to take the pledge and join the movement for a healthier and more equitable future. 

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“As we stand here knee-deep in water, I would be remiss if I did not point out that this is our future if we allow fossil fuel companies to donate a penny to the environment while spending thousands to destroy it,” said Lucero Sanchez, Campaigns Manager with San Diego Coastkeeper.

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The Fossil Fuel Free Pledge launched targeting nonprofit organizations, elected officials and candidates, however, there are plans to expand the categories as well as the geographic region. For more information or to take the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge or to get involved, visit www.fossilfuelfreepledge.org.

As we enter into Earth Month, we recognize the progress we have made battling fossil fuel companies and the climate crisis, but also understand that there is still much, much more that needs to be done.  With this in mind, the Hammond Climate Solutions team, in partnership with other leading San Diego climate organizations, BikeSD, SanDiego350, San Diego Coastkeeper and Surfrider San Diego, could think of no better time than now to launch our newest campaign, the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge.

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“We have seen SDG&E and Sempra use funds to erode bold climate policies and push a fossil fuel agenda, which cannot continue as we fight for a just and livable future,” said Tara Hammond, founder and CEO of Hammond Climate Solutions, a pledgee and co-founder of the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge.  “The Fossil Fuel Free Pledge will give the public, voters, donors and philanthropists a greater sense of security knowing that the nonprofits and elected officials they choose to support do not stand behind greenwashing and won’t be compromised by a fossil fuel agenda that opposes climate action.”

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The Fossil Fuel Free Pledge holds organizations and elected officials accountable for where their funding comes from.  By taking the pledge, nonprofits and elected officials vow to not accept funding from fossil fuel companies, illustrating their devotion and commitment to combating climate change. 

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The pledge is simple:  "We pledge to not take any money from the oil, gas, investor-owned utilities and coal industries, including political action committee contributions, and we pledge to always prioritize the interests of equity, human health, our community, workers and the environment over interests of the fossil fuel industry." ‍

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The campaign lauches with pledgees BikeSD, SanDiego350, San Diego Coastkeeper, Surfrider San Diego and the Environmental Center of San Diego, along with Carlsbad City Councilmember Dr. Priya Bhat-Patel, the first elected official and candidate to take the pledge.  These pledgees have all committed to a transparent and fossil fuel free future. 

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“We want to lead by example and send a message to fossil fuel companies who think they can buy their way into continuing to pollute our environment,” said Lucero Sanchez, community policy coordinator at San Diego Coastkeeper, a pledgee and co-founder of the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge.

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Our pledge will create greater transparency for the public.  When an organization or individual takes the pledge, they stand behind divesting from fossil fuels and instead supporting companies that prioritize clean energy, green jobs and communities of concern.  In fact, in early March the San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors made the unanimous decision to divest from fossil fuel companies.  This allows the County to invest its money in companies that do not detrimentally impact the environment and accelerate the climate crisis.

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“The fossil fuel industry has used its wealth and political power to mislead the public and stymie climate action and climate justice for over six decades,” said Masada Disenhouse, Executive Director of SanDiego350, a pledgee and co-founder of the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge.  “By signing this pledge, organizations and candidates are putting their money where their mouth is and showing the community that they are part of the solution – not part of the problem.”

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With the climate crisis worsening, it is now more urgent than ever to say no to fossil fuels and turn to other sources of renewable energy instead.  If you are an elected official or part of an organization that would like to take the pledge and join the movement for a healthier and more equitable future, please fill out the form linked here.

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We look forward to expanding our impact and helping more organizations, elected officials and candidates commit to being fossil fuel free!  To stay up to date on the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge campaign, visit www.fossilfuelfreepledge.org. 

As we wrap up 2021, a year that consisted of devastating fires, severe flooding and storms, record high temperatures and climate injustices in real time, we have an opportunity to set our goals and intentions for the year ahead.  Although around this time of year, with the inspiration that a new year brings, the weight of adding more goals to the agenda can feel burdensome, especially for climate justice advocates who can experience burn out.  Hence, it is critical to not just identify goals for the year ahead, but also, to take inventory of what’s working and what’s not, in order to create space for the noes along with the yeses.

It is evident that while the climate crisis is truly unfolding before our eyes, we have collectively not met the moment as a society.  The celebrated climate targets set forth by jurisdictions oftentimes are unreachable due to lack of resources or political will, and roadmaps that aim to create the just and livable future we desire tend to fall short on delivering the promises made.  As we enter a new year, we hope this is something that can be left behind in 2021.  We also look forward to greenwashing being a thing of the past, as well as policy changes that do not reflect the needs of the planet and our communities, like the recently released proposed decision regarding California’s future rooftop solar policy, net energy metering 3.0.

However, holding policy makers accountable is something we know we will be bringing into the new year.  We have seen the progress that is feasible as a result of collective efforts, and as the urgency to fight the climate crisis increases, so must our willingness to shine light on what’s working and what’s not at a local level.  Keeping in mind the work that lies ahead, let’s not forget that just 90 corporations are responsible for almost two thirds of historical greenhouse gas emissions - included in the list of companies is, of course, Big Oil. 

We’re excited to announce that in early 2022, we will be strengthening collective accountability through two new initiatives!  In the coming weeks we will be releasing the San Diego Climate Report Card, which we created in partnership with the Climate Defenders Action Fund and League of Conservation Voters San Diego, in order to hold elected officials accountable for climate action within the City of San Diego and County of San Diego.  Additionally, the San Diego Climate Hub will be launching a new initiative called the Fossil Fuel Free Pledge, which will highlight nonprofit organizations and elected officials that pledge to not accept fossil fuel donations.  Time and time again, we have seen oil and gas corporations use organizations as pawns to fight climate action and engage in greenwashing.  Keep an eye out for how your favorite nonprofit organizations and elected officials can take the pledge.

Here are some impactful goals and ideas to consider when planting intentions for the new year:

• Reduce waste, stress and carbon emissions simultaneously by starting your own vegetable garden!  If planting space is limited, check out this blog post on DIY vertical gardens that include the use of upcycled plastic bottles
• Join a local climate justice organization or coalition aiming to hold elected officials accountable to the climate targets they commit to, and set an intention of making public comments each month - below are some national nonprofit organizations to check out that may have a local chapter near you:

• 350.org
• Sunrise Movement
• Climate Reality Project
• Indivisible

• Educate yourself on the intersection of racism and the climate crisis - a good place to start is the widely regarded book Revolutionary Power by Shalanda Baker (available as an audiobook and can be purchased used or rented from the library) 
• Aim for a low-waste, organic, plant-based lifestyle by opting for bulk and plastic-free foods, such as lentils, quinoa, beans and rice, using a repurposed container or jar and vegetables using reusable produce bags like these from EcoRoots
• Survey your consumption patterns, and see where you may be able to choose second hand for household items, clothes and other items - we recommend checking out the Buy Nothing Project
• Prioritize more self-care to ensure your own personal sustainability is on the agenda (which will also allow you to help the planet and others, long-term)
• Give the gift of experiences in place of items, which create long-lasting memories along with the opportunity to support unique services like plant-based cooking classes
• Survey your single-use items and household habits to create a zero-waste lifestyle wherever possible - feel free to check out this guide by Going Zero Waste

Thank you for supporting our work, whether you are part of a partner organization, coalition or an individual activist in our hometown of San Diego or across the globe.  We wish you a bright 2022 and look forward to working with you in the new year to create a more just and livable future for all.