Call for Collaboration on Climate Change

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We have witnessed the worst of climate change over the past year. Deadly fires and storms – exacerbated by global warming –have ravaged California, Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas. Here in the Golden State, dozens of lives have been lost and whole communities destroyed in infernos caused by extreme seasonal conditions, followed by weather events that led to severe mudslides.

According to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2016 was the “third year in a row to set a new record for global average surface temperatures.” Scientists and researchers have predicted that climate change will continue to increase extreme weather, heat, drought and fires throughout California.

Despite scientific evidence and the historic devastation experienced by thousands of Americans in Houston, San Juan, Santa Rosa and Santa Barbara in the past year alone, the U.S. government is the sole country that is not a party to the Paris Climate Agreement.

Here in California, because our lives depend on it, we refuse to wait for Washington to fight climate change. Our state’s governor and a state legislature have passed and signed into law landmark legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. Thankfully, the mayor of Los Angeles has not only led efforts to move to 100 percent clean power and zero emissions transportation, he has rallied over 75 California mayors committed to action on climate change – and 400 across the U.S. – to adopt the Paris Climate Agreement. This group of city leaders has prioritized local policies such as moving toward 100 percent renewables, increasing energy efficiency and requiring electric vehicles for their city fleets.

Fighting climate change means we also need to prioritize investing in reducing emissions and making our infrastructure more resilient. In California, the most impactful way to do this is to electrify transportation and build more public transit. Voters in Los Angeles approved Measure M one year ago, and now more than $120 billion will be invested in public transit countywide over the next 40 years. By building rail lines, putting electric buses on our roads and providing more shared mobility options like bike sharing, traffic and emissions are reduced and communities benefit overall.

Yet that’s not enough. As we have seen in California recently, climate science correctly predicted extreme fires fueled by unusually dry conditions. Last year, nearly 200,000 acres burned across our state, killing dozens of people and costing California more than $1 billion in damages. We also need to continue investing in a smarter, resilient electricity grid – one that also integrates distributed renewables, battery backup, and systems to keep meeting the needs of critical loads.

Here at Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, we are incubating several startups whose technologies could have a catalytic impact on the fight against climate change, including an electric aircraft company planning its first test flights; an electric bus shuttle company; a vanpool replacement system that uses pure battery electric vehicles; and a traffic management company whose machine-learning software reduces congestion – which cannot come soon enough for anyone who regularly drives on Southern California’s roads. L.A. stands to be the transportation technology capital of the world.

Collaboration and innovation across the public and private sectors is not just key to growing our economy, it is key to combatting climate change. Defined by our progressive vision, innovative spirit and the distinct climate risks we face, it is critical that here in California we continue to lead the way.

Matt Petersen is the president and chief executive of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator.

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