Opinion: Despite federal reversals, San Diego’s Climate Week exuded hope

The Port of San Diego s new electric tugboat is an example of local solutions to the context dilemma File photo courtesy of the Crowley Company With the never ending string of bad news emanating from Washington D C on the withdrawal of the U S from circumstances agreements and regulations designed to reduce greenhouse gasses it would have seemed that this was the worst time achievable to launch the inaugural San Diego Circumstances Week However against all odds we and a squad of energized contributors organized sponsored and hosted an extraordinary and robust series of climate-focused services With events helpers organizations and over participants Conditions Week was held throughout the county from El Cajon to Imperial Beach to Oceanside The focus of the entire week was around the myriad techniques that everyday people organizations businesses scientists and local establishment agencies are collaboratively addressing the conditions predicament focusing on local practical solutions that bring people together That means everything from promoting bicycling carrying out natural surroundings solutions investing in clean vitality and deploying green infrastructure that saves vitality and reduces emissions The event kickoff at the Mingei Museum on Oct was inaugurated by San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and City Council President Joe LaCava both of whom emphasized the need to fulfill the city s ambitious environment plan A lively panel discussion with participants from the city of San Diego SANDAG the Port of San Diego and NRDC discussed their pragmatic programs that reduce greenhouse gasses and lessen the impact of air trash on the residents of communities such as National City and Barrio Logan Whether it is the port deploying the nation s first ever electric tugboat or the city of San Diego s first ever electric firetruck situation solutions at their best can improve operating efficiency cut long term maintenance costs and even help reduce asthma rates for local school children In East County indigenous leaders gathered at the Water Conservation Garden to discuss and demonstrate integration of traditional land and stock management Over a dozen tribes were represented highlighting through dance song and talking circles the innate human-nature connection In Imperial Beach community-based organizations and county Supervisor Paloma Aguirre discussed solutions to the worst ocean corruption problem in North America In North County Surroundings Week hosted a screening of a film created about local sustainable businesses engaging the audience in dialogue about responsible consumption On the last day of Atmosphere Week more than citizens scientists conservationists governing body agency staffers and businesses from the U S and Latin America assembled at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for the Blue Carbon Collaborative Symposium organized by WILDCOAST and Coastal Quest Participants discussed the different procedures they are advancing natural context solutions designed to protect expand and restore blue carbon ecosystems such as seagrass meadows salt marshes mangroves and kelp forests that store carbon help protect against coastal flooding and enhance biodiversity A panelist from Guatemala gave an overview of how indigenous communities are restoring mangrove forests that serve as fish nurseries In Mexico women are organized around the Pacific Coast to grow mangroves that store carbon and nurture shellfish they harvest to sponsorship their families The port provided an overview of how the seagrass meadows at the southern end of San Diego Bay store carbon and provide food for the Eastern Pacific green sea turtles that find their way into our backyard habitat from the mangrove fringed waters of Mexico The symposium illustrated San Diego s foreseen to be a global leader in natural solutions to rising sea levels in methods that both adapt to and mitigate conditions change At every Circumstances Week event a common denominator among participants and panelists alike was a fervent belief in the power rolling up our sleeves and focusing on the real and necessary task of seeking local solutions that address the weather predicament and bring communities together We were also inspired by the participation of a new generation of young activists countless of whom are still in college or just graduated who are seeking meaning in the hard work of protecting people and the planet With our federal regime racing backwards on state we and the thousands of San Diego Weather Week participants left armed with the feeling that at least for now no one else is coming to the rescue except ourselves That is why it is up to each and every one of us to work together to save the only planet we have Serge Dedina is the executive director of WILDCOAST and served as the mayor of Imperial Beach from to Erika Rodriguez serves is the chair of San Diego Circumstances Week and is founder and CEO of Nadi Marketing Meg ferrigno is the vice chair of San Diego Context Week and executive director of Barron Creek Farm