We interview 19-year-old Samantha Smithies about her role in climate action in Albany, CA. Hear about how she participated on, and then led, the city's Climate Action Committee.

For more information, check out episode 4 on Albany and funding climate action.

Resources

• Albany Measure DD - Utility Users' Tax
• Albany Climate Action Committee
• Carbon Free Albany - website
• Albany Climate Action Coalition - citizen group

How does a small city fund climate action? Albany came up with a creative answer. We interview newly elected council member Preston Jordan and Climate Action Committee member Nick Peterson, about their recently approved utility tax ballot measure.

Check out our bonus youth episode where we interview an Albany youth leader about her role in Albany climate activism.

Resources

• Albany Measure DD - Utility Users' Tax
• Albany Climate Action Committee
• Carbon Free Albany - website
• Albany Climate Action Coalition - citizen group

Youth from the St Louis Park High School Environmental Club initiated St. Louis Park's Climate Action Plan over five years ago and remain involved today. We interview the leader that started the work five years ago and the current leader of the club.

For more information and links, check out Episode 3.

High School students in St. Louis Park, MN initiated what became the most aggressive climate action plan in the state. Abby interviews co-host Larry Kraft about how youth forever changed the course of the city and how they remain involved.

Check out our bonus episode where we interview St. Louis Park youth leaders.

More Information and Links

• City of St. Louis Park website
• St. Louis Park Climate Action Plan adopted by St. Louis Park City council on  2/5/2018
• Climate Inheritance Resolution adopted by St. Louis Park City Council on 5/16/2016
• Climate Leadership Resolution adopted by St. Louis Park School Board on  5/10/2019
• High School Students present to St. Louis Park City Council on 3/21/2016, starting the process that led to St. Louis Park's Climate Action Plan.

We interview 16 year old Emily Taylor of Anchorage and Bristol Bay about her story and the impacts of climate change on her, her family, and Alaska. 

If you haven't already, make sure to check out our Anchorage episode with four amazing women leaders.

Resources

• Emily's climate change essay
• Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA)

What does it look like to engage in a just transition? How can city climate action benefit from inclusive engagement? How do you change an entrenched fossil fuel story about the Alaskan economy? We interview Ruth Miller of Native Movement, Polly Carr of the Alaska Center, Kendra Closter of Native Peoples Action, and Shaina Kilcoyne with the City of Anchorage and learn about the impact local entities can have when they work together to address big issues.

Make sure to also check out our Anchorage youth episode where we interview 16 year old Emily Taylor about her climate story.

Resources:

• Anchorage Climate Action Plan
• Video: Restoring to Balance: Climate change and a vision for Alaska
• Native Peoples Action
• The Alaska Center
• Native Movement

Intro to the podcast followed by an analysis of clean energy efforts by 30 small cities around the country. We interview Dave Ribeiro, director of local policy at the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and explore the application to small cities of a scorecard previously used only for large cities.

More Information and Links

• Press Release 1/12/2021: "ACEEE Analysis Finds Small Cities Can Lead on Clean Energy, Too"
• ACEEE City Clean Energy Scorecard
• Do it yourself! Local Clean Energy Self-scoring Tool
• Blog post 2/12/2021: "Small but Mighty: How Three Small Cities are Saving Energy and Embracing Renewables"