Climate Change

Climate change is the biggest threat facing our planet. Its impacts—among them, rising sea levels, extreme weather, and disrupted ecosystems—pose profound risks to human societies and the natural world. Burning fossil fuels is the primary cause of climate change, releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which in turn trap heat and cause global warming.

While climate change is clearly a global peril, it is also a local issue that cannot be ignored. Globally and locally, protecting the planet is our greatest responsibility.

Socially responsible investing

From 2019 to 2022 I served on El Cerrito’s Financial Advisory Board, colloquially known as “FAB.” Despite objections from an elected official who warned against “upsetting Chevron,” I successfully worked with FAB and the City Council to amend El Cerrito's investment policy with language encouraging socially responsible investing and prohibiting investments in entities that engage in the direct exploration, drilling, production, refining, or marketing of fossil fuels. 

This is the exact language:

Responsible Investing: The City of El Cerrito recognizes that it has a shared responsibility to protect the lives and livelihoods of its inhabitants from the catastrophic threat and societal costs of climate change. The City believes that its financial investments should support a future where all its residents can live healthy lives without the negative environmental, economic and/or health impacts of global warming. 

• Investments are encouraged in entities that are involved in the production of renewable, sustainable energy and have demonstrated a commitment to transparent, accountable corporate governance. 
• No direct investments are to be made in publicly-traded companies or private entities that engage in the direct exploration, drilling, production, refining, or marketing of fossil fuels. 
• All investments in the State of California’s Local Agency Investment Fund (“LAIF”) are exempt from section 3.6.

Do the research and learn from experts

In drafting this amendment, I consulted experts in the field and reviewed the policies of numerous government entities that have adopted a wide range of socially responsible investment (SRI) policies. My goal was to identify core principles; be explicitly clear in purpose and intent; avoid unsubstantiated claims and inflammatory accusations; and adopt concise language that had already been vetted by the legal counsel of similarly-sized California cities.

I am very proud to have initiated, researched and led the effort to successfully amend El Cerrito's investment policy. 

No fossil fuel money pledge

I have taken a pledge to reject campaign contributions from fossil fuel companies and not accept money from the oil, gas and coal industries. I urge other candidates to do the same. The link is here: nofossilfuelmoney.org.