In this month's coverage, we give an update on Youth v. Oil and the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California, explore San Diego's journey to Net Zero carbon Emissions, discuss how America’s Obsession With Gigantic Vehicles is Killing the Planet, and learn about SD350's legislation team.

Check out the linked climate-related blogs written by our volunteers below. One of our volunteers, Joel Martin is writing a climate column in The Jumping-Off Place, a new progressive news outlet. Read Joel's article below and subscribe to the publication. 

Want to get involved? Scroll to the end to find our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Table with us at various Earth Day events in April! 

By Taarika Sethee and Abby Deckert - Youth v. Oil advocates 

Youth v. Oil and SD350 members have been working hard on the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California and have several accomplishments to share. 

This campaign is working to defend the 2022 CA oil setbacks legislation that would require buffer zones between toxic oil drilling and homes, schools and playgrounds. Big Oil delayed implementation of, and is trying to repeal the law, through a referendum on the November 2024 ballot. (read the blog)

We passed a resolution unanimously at the Encinitas City Council on February 28th in support of keeping the law. See press coverage and a recording of the meeting, starting at 20:30.

The resolution also passed the SD City Council Environment Committee on February 15th. On Tuesday, April 9th at 10 am, the resolution will be voted on at the full SD City Council. Please show up in support or submit a public comment. Register here 

Next, we’ll be taking our resolution to Del Mar, La Mesa and Vista so look out for information about how to support the campaign. 

This past Saturday, we held our campaign kick off - lots of great energy around this campaign! See photos here. If you missed the kickoff, complete this form to volunteer on the San Diego portion of the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy California.

CONGRATULATIONS to our youth! - ECO AMERICA AWARD

CONGRATULATIONS to our youth for being selected as a finalist for the American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students 2024! Join me to watch @ecoAmerica’s American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students online on April 10th at 11 am PT am where the winner will be announced live. HUGE thank you to all the youth 

WHEN: April 5, 2024 @ 8:00 am – April 30, 2024 @ 8:00 am
WHERE: San Diego, California

SanDiego350 will be at Earth Day Celebrations Fairs all over San Diego County in April! Stop by and say hello, learn more about current projects and sign our active petitions.

Volunteers are needed to help table and raise awareness about environmental and social justice issues tackled by our SD350 teams.

SanDiego350 supports the Power San Diego ballot initiative campaign to Fire SDG&E and replace it with a not-for-profit, publicly owned electric distribution utility in the City of San Diego.  

To succeed, the campaign must complete collecting signatures by May 14th - which is why we need your help. 

Please help today: 

1. Request a petition by mail. If you are a registered voter in the City of San Diego, a petition will be mailed to you to sign; you can also collect up to four signatures from family and friends. 
2. Sign up to help us petition. Even if you don’t live in the City of San Diego, you can still fight SDG&E- any US citizen over 18 can petition. And there are many upcoming petitioning opportunities to choose from.
3. Donate to the campaign.

WHEN: April 5, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
WHERE: Citibank - 740 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Solana Beach, California 92075

Climate change is making extreme weather events like this winter’s floods and rainstorms in SoCal the new normal and there are often fatalities. In the past fifty years approximately two million people have died from such events. Climate change is primarily driven by the fossil fuel industry which in turn is funded by our financial sector.  From 2016-2022 four big US banks–Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo–have poured over one trillion dollars into the fossil fuel industry. THIS MUST STOP!!

To protest this blood money and honor those who have died (most of whom are from developing nations), a coalition of environmental groups is holding a series of memorial services/protests in different locations around San Diego.

This event is sponsored by the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice and partners including Third Act So Cal, GreenFaith, SanDiego350, CleanEarth4Kids, and the North County Equity and Justice Coalition.

WHEN: April 9, 2024 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am
WHERE: City Hall 202 C Street, 12th Floor, San Diego, California 92101

Youth v. Oil is advocating for the San Diego City Council to pass a resolution supporting the Campaign for a Safe and Health California and keeping SB1137, the state law passed in 2022 to prohibit new or modified oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, daycare centers, parks, healthcare facilities, and businesses. 

This resolution, which passed the Environment Committee in February, is on the docket at the full San Diego City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 9. Please help ensure this important resolution passes. The resolution was passed by the Encinitas Council on Feb 28.  

Please show your support for youth leaders:

1. Attend the meeting – in-person if possible (you can also tune in to watch online).  The meeting starts at 10 am, and this item is on the consent agenda, so we expect it to come up by 11 am. 
2. Submit written public comment ahead of the meeting. 

WHEN: April 29, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
WHERE: Zoom

SanDiego350 will host an Orientation Chat on Monday, April 29th @6:00pm- 7:30pm. Are you interested in supporting climate action in San Diego? Are you new or newer to the SD350 community? Register for an Orientation Chat today to learn more about who we are, what we do, and why it’s important. This is a great space to meet other volunteers and get involved in the movement. We look forward to seeing you there! 

WHEN: May 25, 2024 @ 12:00 am – 12:00 am
WHERE: TBD

SAVE THE DATE for the Youth4Climate Summit! Youth4Climate’s Summit is an annual event where students and community members can connect with a network of local climate activists, access Y4C resources and knowledge, learn from community leaders, climate scientists, and & other experts, and participate in collaborative, innovative, and restorative activities!

We are still in the planning process, so please add this even to your calendar and check back soon for more information on the exact time and location and how to register, thank you!

• Massive lobbying group creates multimillion-dollar ad campaign to influence 2024 election: 'Energy is on the ballot' (The Cool Down)
• In a boost for EVs, EPA finalizes strict new limits on tailpipe emissions (NPR)
• Fossil Fuel Ideologues Are Desperate to Keep Coal Alive, No Matter the Costs (The Magazine of the Sierra Club)
• Encinitas council approves resolution in support of law that limits oil and gas wells neat schools, homes (Encinitas Advocate)