Listen to this note:
The annual San Mateo County Climate Summit is set to take place this coming October 8 at the South San Francisco Conference Center. The summit aims to boost climate adaptation in the area, as well as to be a platform for underrepresented voices.
The third consecutive year-long event is being hosted by local organizations Climate Resilient Communities, Nuestra Casa, Rise South City, Thrive, and the San Mateo County Nonprofit Alliance and will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"Between 2022 and 2024, the Summit has redefined who is considered an expert in the field of climate change," said Miriam Yupanqui, executive director of Nuestra Casa.
"We have increasingly prioritized amplifying the lived experiences of community members who have been disproportionately impacted by climate change, ensuring they are at the forefront of discussions," she added.
The organizations noted in a statement that the 2024 Summit, which includes multiple sessions focused on environmental justice, comes at a crucial political moment for environmental and climate justice in San Mateo County, when several cities are incorporating elements of environmental justice into their General Plans for the first time.
“These plans, when built with equitable community engagement at their core, offer an opportunity to acknowledge our collective history of racism and segregation,” said Violet Wulf-Saena, executive director of Climate Resilient Communities.
Rise South City Executive Director Julio Garcia said the Summit is an opportunity to raise awareness about the specific environmental and climate injustices facing South San Francisco.
“Air quality is one of the biggest impacts on our frontline communities. People living near the freeway suffer the consequences of traffic traveling to and from San Francisco, and pollution from the airport,” he stressed, explaining that air quality will feature prominently in one of the Summit’s afternoon sessions.
The organizations noted that South San Francisco Mayor James Coleman will deliver the opening remarks, followed by a performance by Danza Colibrí, a morning plenary session, and a first round of three breakout sessions from which attendees can choose.
Lunch will be followed by a performance by the Pacific Islands Youth Alliance, followed by a plenary session in the afternoon and a second round of three breakout sessions.
The Summit will conclude with remarks from climate mourning facilitator Ari Simon.
For more information, interested parties can visit the site www.climatesummitsmc.org; the last day to register is October 3 and scholarships are available.
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