Dear San José Mayor Mahan and City Council,

The urgency of addressing climate change has never been more clear. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global temperatures are rising, and the window for preventing irreversible damage is closing extremely quickly. In San José, we have seen firsthand the devastating effects of climate change. Wildfires have often scorched surrounding regions, while extreme heat waves strain our infrastructure and endanger vulnerable residents, particularly those who are unhoused or who live in buildings with no cooling. Prolonged droughts threaten our water supply and the natural ecosystem that surrounds us. These changes in our climate are not just statistics; they are genuine impacts on our community, health, economy, and environment.

As we strive to combat these challenges, programs like Climate Smart San José are vital to ensuring a sustainable future. A 32% decrease in year-on-year funding for Climate Smart during the 2024-2025 fiscal year was a step backward on the long path of progress toward our 2030 carbon neutrality goals. These budget cuts were a false economy. Studies are clear that the financial cost of rapid decarbonization right now is dwarfed by the economic damages we will suffer if the climate crisis is allowed to progress. Now it is the time to invest more, not less, in initiatives that protect our city, its residents, and its future generations.

We, the students of the San José Youth Climate Action Team and our partners throughout the City, urge the San José City Council to increase the one-time 2025-26 fiscal year funding for Climate Smart San José and to establish permanent annual funding. Further, we ask that the Council consider increasing Environmental Services Department or Energy Department staff to support the vital work of Climate Smart San José towards our city’s 2030 carbon neutrality goal. We also urge the Council to accelerate public outreach programs and collaboration with community-based organizations to effectively carry out Climate Smart’s goals and empower all residents to adopt climate-friendly technologies and practices and to take action in our communities. We acknowledge the budget shortfall that the City of San José is currently facing, but climate funding must remain a key priority in this year’s decisions.

Maintaining support and resources for Climate Smart San José is critical to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and mitigating our city’s environmental impact. Climate change is harming our city right now, and things will continue to worsen until we take dramatic action. To protect our future and prevent further harm, the city must intensify its climate action efforts. Fully implementing the Climate Smart San José Plan will deliver significant co-benefits, including cleaner air, safer streets, more beautiful and liveable neighborhoods, and medium and long-term cost savings.

San José has made notable progress, such as founding San José Clean Energy which has increased our proportion of clean electricity, requiring EV charging access in most new apartment buildings, and starting electrification rebate programs. These measures set a strong foundation for reducing emissions and promoting sustainable development. However, without consistent funding and staffing for Climate Smart initiatives, the city risks falling short of its ambitious and necessary goals. An October 2024 City memo stated, “While the City continues to progress towards its City Council-approved climate goals, continued City investment and focus are necessary to reach those goals.” Indeed, we are not on track to reach our climate targets, and it will require significant action right now to get back on track. 2030 is less than 5 years away.

As one of the largest U.S. cities to commit to carbon neutrality by 2030, and ranked the sixth greenest city in the nation, San José is a leader in climate action. Still, we currently devote far less funding to climate action than other comparable cities like San Diego and Portland. As the capital of Silicon Valley and an epicenter of innovation, other cities look to San José’s lead. The ripple effects of our decisions are profound and will add up to significant effects. Reducing support for Climate Smart would send the precise wrong message to other cities and hinder collective progress in tackling climate change. Instead, San José must continue to lead by example, demonstrating that bold investments in sustainability are possible, necessary, and effective.

It must be noted that this is in the context of extreme backsliding on climate efforts at a national level. It is the responsibility of our local governments to step up and take action.

By increasing funding and support for Climate Smart San José, we can put our city on a path toward achieving our climate goals while serving as a leading example for other cities to follow. San José has the potential to be a model of climate action, but that future depends on our commitment today. Let’s ensure that the necessary resources are in place to make this goal a reality.

Mayor Mahan and City Council, please remember, you are the last generation of leaders who has the power to halt the most catastrophic effects of the climate crisis on our present and our future. We are counting on you.