Green New Deal: Read City College's Proposal

SAN FRANCISCO — City College of San Francisco has released a bold plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and embrace sustainability as part of a Green New Deal to address climate action and sustainability.

The proposal by Board President Alan Wong would require the college to assess the school’s current state on a range of major environmental and sustainability measurements and set incremental benchmarks for improvement over the next decade.

• eliminate greenhouse gas emissions
• require green building standards
• shift gas appliances and systems to electric
• increase water conservation
• reduce consumption and eliminate landfill
• develop sustainable procurement standards
• get a zero emissions vehicle fleet
• serve ethical and sustainable food on campus

"As one of the largest institutions and property owners in San Francisco, City College has a moral responsibility to address the climate crisis and we need to take action now," said Wong. "The Green New Deal for City College will set the stage for City College to eradicate our greenhouse gas emissions, transition all our vehicles and systems from gas to electric, and fundamentally change how we as a college operate. As a public educational institution, we need to set an example for our young people and community. It’s time for City College to do its part and adopt a climate action and sustainability plan."

Under the proposal, in 2026 the college will finish assessing its baselines for greenhouse gas emissions, energy usage, water conservation, consumption and waste, and develop a sustainable procurement policy. By 2031, City College will have to meet its first sustainability benchmarks. The final sustainability benchmarks for City College will be met in 2035, including: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent, requiring new buildings certified zero carbon and 75 percent reduction of natural gas use in buildings, zero landfill waste, and 100 percent of fleet vehicles having zero emissions.

The resolution also calls for the designation of a Sustainability Officer at the college to carry out the goals of the policy, retaining the services of an expert to advise on the Climate Action and Sustainability Plan, and annual reports to monitor progress and benchmarks.

“When City College is making decisions to procure and build, sustainability needs to be a top consideration in how we think about these things,” said Wong “This policy will get the college to include sustainability as a factor in key decisions and create a climate action and sustainability plan in order to meet sustainability benchmarks in 2026, 2031, and 2035.”

The proposed policy is supported by over 13 environmental organizations, including 350 San Francisco, San Francisco Climate Emergency Coalition, San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility, Citizens Climate Lobby, San Francisco Tomorrow, Mothers Out Front, 1000 Grandmothers, Friends of the Urban Forest, GreenAction, San Francisco League of Conservation Voters, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Emerald Cities, and Older Women’s League.

The resolution language and proposed policy is included below:
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Resolution Supporting a Green New Deal for City College and Adopting a Climate Action and Sustainability Plan

WHEREAS, City College of San Francisco still does not have or follow a specific Climate Action and Sustainability Plan that reaches the benchmarks and goals that the California Community College Chancellor’s Office has initiated; and

WHEREAS, the July 27, 2004 Governor’s Executive Order S-12-04 requests active participation of the California Community Colleges in statewide energy conservation and reducing electrical demand; and

WHEREAS, on May 20, 2019 the California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors adopted the Resolution on Climate Change and Sustainability Goals and Policy to take actions as a system to address climate change and improve environmental sustainability specifically through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and

WHEREAS, the California Community Colleges Resolution on Climate Change and Sustainability Goals and Policy adopts goals and a new Climate Change and Sustainability Policy to align with the vision and goals of various state policies; and

WHEREAS, the California Climate Change Scoping Plan is a comprehensive multi-year program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California and outlines policies that would transition the economy away from fossil fuels; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of the California Climate Change Scoping Plan is to fulfill state mandates to reduce planet-warming emissions, including reducing emissions by 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and as laid out recently in 2022, laying out a path to achieve targets for carbon neutrality and reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent below 1990 levels no later than 2045; and

WHEREAS, the California Community Colleges Resolution on Climate Change and Sustainability Goals and Policy requests each local Board of Trustees to adopt a local resolution to align with the key Climate Change and Sustainability Pillars identified in the California Climate Change Scoping Plan and the goals provided in the Climate Change and Sustainability Policy of the Board of Governors; and

WHEREAS, the global average temperature has increased by more than 1.5°F between 1880 and 2023, and is projected to increase in the United States by an additional 2° to 4° by 2050; climate warming is driven largely by human-made emissions and use of well-mixed greenhouse gases that have been released into the atmosphere over the last 50 years; California will continue to experience increased heat, drought, insect outbreaks, wildfires, declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in cities due to heat, flooding, rising sea levels, and erosion in coastal areas due to the effects of climate change; and

WHEREAS, according to the 2018 California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment San Francisco Bay Area Summary Report, the Bay Area’s average annual maximum temperature increased by 1.7°F (0.95°C) from 1950-2005 and the sea level in the Bay Area has risen over 20 centimeters (8 inches) in the last 100 years, along with the famous coastal fog of San Francisco being seen less frequently throughout the past years; and

WHEREAS, the 2018 California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment San Francisco Bay Area Summary Report projects a median sea level rise between 0.74m (RCP 4.5 watts per meter squared) (0.74 m) and 1.37 m (RCP 8.5 watts per meter squared) for 2100 along the California coast; and

WHEREAS, City College of San Francisco buildings should be up to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and WELL standard (building standard that focuses on the health and wellness of building occupants); and

WHEREAS, LEED is a green building rating system with four different ratings: certification, silver, gold, and platinum (from lowest to highest) and buildings are scored on sustainability, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, innovation in operations and regional quality, and the material and resources used for construction;

WHEREAS, the WELL performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind; and

WHEREAS, City College of San Francisco was included in the in the San Francisco Public 2018 Energy Benchmarking Report, which reviewed year-over-year facility Energy Use Intensity (EUI), which is measured by energy per square foot per year and calculated by dividing the total energy consumed by the building in one year (measured in kBtu or GJ) by the total gross floor area of the building (measured in square feet or square meters); and

WHEREAS, City College of San Francisco, receives 100 percent greenhouse gas-free electricity from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission through the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water and Power System; and

WHEREAS, according to a July 26, 2022 San Francisco Public Utilities Commission statement, San Franciscans consume an average of 42 gallons of water per day, one of the lowest rates in California and half the state average;

WHEREAS, in March 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge, which calls on all building owners and operators – including colleges – to adopt key strategies to improve indoor air quality in their buildings and reduce the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the 2021 San Francisco Climate Action Plan, charts a pathway to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and works toward addressing racial and social equity, public health, economic recovery, resilience, and providing safe and affordable housing to all; and

WHEREAS, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors Climate Action and Sustainability Framework recommends each community college district designate a Sustainability Officer to carry out and/or coordinate campus sustainability program efforts; and

WHEREAS, City College of San Francisco, being a place of opportunity and second chances, should support workers in need of a Just Transition through workforce development programs, similar to the workforce programs offered at the San Francisco Conservation Corps and City Build Academy; and

WHEREAS, organizations such as the Blue Green Alliance, Sierra Club, and Jobs with Justice San Francisco have started working alongside their labor and environmental partners to address environmental problems while working for fair working opportunities and conditions for workers affected; and

WHEREAS, City College of San Francisco has not had an updated Sustainability or Climate Action Plan for decades; and

WHEREAS, As climate change remains an increasing threat to Californians’ health, safety, and economic well-being, City College of San Francisco plays a role in increasing knowledge, education, and opportunity, it is crucial to consider the impact California Community Colleges have on climate change and the impact we can make;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to adopting, implementing, and exceeding the benchmarks and goals of the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and directs the Chancellor to create a Climate Action and Sustainability Plan meeting benchmarks that includes but is not limited to the areas of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction, Green Buildings, Energy, Water, Waste, Purchasing and Procurement, Transportation and Food Systems; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to securing services of an expert to assemble the data needed to develop baselines, to advise on achievable benchmarks and goals at milestone years, to outline strategies to meet and/or exceed the benchmarks and goals, to draft the Climate Action and Sustainability Plan and to report to the Chancellor on progress, successes and challenges; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction:

• 2026: Conduct emissions inventory baseline
• 2031: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 75 percent below baseline
• 2035: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 100 percent below baseline; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Green Buildings:

• 2026: Benchmark energy usage intensity for each building; Develop Zero Net Energy (ZNE) and campus electrification strategy; Conduct Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and/or WELL assessment of existing buildings
• 2031: All new buildings and major renovations constructed as ZNE ready; All new buildings certified LEED or WELL Gold; Use of natural gas in buildings reduced by 30 percent
• 2035: All new buildings and major renovations constructed as ZNE; All new buildings certified zero carbon; All existing buildings LEED O&M Gold or WELL Gold equivalent; Use of natural gas in buildings reduced by 75 percent; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Energy:

• 2026: Establish a campus Energy Use Intensity (EUI) score; Conduct Effective Useful Life (EUL) analysis of all gas-using appliances and systems; Plan for electrification of systems with EUL of less than 10 years
• 2031: Decrease EUI by 25 percent compared to the campus benchmark; Produce or procure 75 percent of site electrical consumption on an annual basis using renewable energy
• 2035: Decrease EUI by 40 percent compared to the campus benchmark; Accomplish Net Zero Energy Campus; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Water:

• 2026: Benchmark potable water usage and create a water balance; Identify potential non-potable water resources; Create a landscape zoning map and irrigation metering strategy; Adopt the California Community College Model Stormwater management program
• 2031: Reduce potable water usage from baseline level by 25 percent; Landscape irrigation systems of 2500 square feet or greater shall be separately metered (unless using local or municipal reclaimed water system); Landscape planting materials shall be 90 percent native species to the climate and geographical area of the college; Irrigated turf grass shall not exceed 50 percent of the landscaped areas on campus
• 2035: Reduce potable water usage from baseline level by 50 percent; Stormwater runoff and discharge shall be limited to predevelopment levels for temperature, rate, volume, and duration of flow through the use of green infrastructure and low-impact development for the campus; Stormwater runoff and discharge shall be limited to predevelopment levels for temperature, rate, volume and duration of flow through the use of green infrastructure and low impact development for new buildings, streets and open spaces and major modifications; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Waste:

• 2026: Conduct waste categorization assessment; Centralize reporting for waste and resource recovery; Conduct total material consumption benchmark
• 2031: Achieve zero waste to landfill; Conduct circularity analysis; Reduce total material consumption compared to the benchmark by 10 percent
• 2035: Maintain zero waste to landfill; Increase material circularity by 25 percent; Decrease consumption of materials by 25 percent; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Purchasing and Procurement:

• 2026: Benchmark sustainability characteristics of existing products and services; Adopt a sustainable procurement policy and administrative procedure; Purchase environmentally and socially preferable electronic products
• 2031: Increase procurement of sustainable products and services by 25 percent compared to benchmark levels
• 2035: Increase procurement of sustainable products and services by 50 percent compared to benchmark levels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Transportation:

• 2026: Conduct accounting and conditions assessment of fleet vehicles; Assess remainder of fleet vehicles for potential electrification; Develop Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to encourage faculty, staff, and students to use EVs; Promote accessible shared transport methods; Make pedestrian and bicycle access improvements
• 2031: 50 percent of new fleet vehicles are zero-emission vehicles; 50 percent of fleet vehicles are zero emissions; Implement discounted green parking permits
• 2035: 100 percent of new fleet vehicles are zero-emission vehicles; 100 percent of fleet vehicles are zero emissions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco will commit to the following benchmarks for Food Systems:

• 2026: Benchmark and track sustainable food purchases in alignment with the Real Food Challenge or equivalent guidelines, or equivalent
• 2031: Strive to increase campus sustainable food purchases v. baseline by 20 percent
• 2035: 80 percent of the food served on campus meets the requirements of the Real Food Challenge or equivalent; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees directs the Chancellor to implement this policy through the appropriate participatory governance process and to identify the appropriate parties to involve; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco shall designate a Sustainability Officer no later than June 2024 responsible for carrying out and/or coordinating its campus sustainability program efforts; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, City College of San Francisco shall provide an annual report beginning in June 2025 and each June thereafter detailing both progress and plans towards meeting each of the Climate Action and Sustainability Plan benchmarks and goals.