Lead With Cities

In this first episode, we talk to the then Executive Officer of Sustainability for Los Angeles, Victoria Simon, about the extraordinary transformation that the city is undergoing. We explore how LA has managed to steam ahead in decarbonising its power grid and transport system, why it is planting trees to help address decades-old racial injustice, and what happens when a coalition of 97 of the world's megacities accelerate decarbonisation far beyond national commitments.

NOTES
Here's The Plan is presented by James Miller and Bella Lack.

Victoria Simon was, at the time of recording, the Executive Officer of Sustainability for the City of Los Angeles. She is now acting as a climate advisor for the County of Los Angeles Sustainability Office. 

You can read more about the progress that Los Angeles is making here...
And about the work of the C40, including case studies from all around the world, here.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Identify an issue that you care about in your city or region, whether that be poorly insulated homes, polluted rivers or air pollution. Research it, and find out as much as you can about it and its local context.

2. Check if there are existing organisations that are already working on the issue. Offering your skills and ideas to a pre-existing organisation can be far more efficient and effective than starting afresh yourself!

3. If you can't find anyone working on the problem already, make a start yourself! Why not organise a meeting or phone call with a representative in your local administration (you should be able to look them up online) and understand more about what attention is being given to the issue. Based on that, you can decide how to proceed.

Find inspiration from some of the fantastic community organisation work taking place in LA at www.climateresolve.org

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SUPPORT THE PODCAST
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