Each year, Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA), and our citywide partner Alameda Green Schools Challenge, invite students across the island to write letters to celebrate Earth Day.
Past letters have focused on:
- Straws and their impact on the environment (which contributed to the City’s consideration of its reusable foodware ordinance)
- Thank you notes to their favorite restaurants for complying with the City’s single use plastic foodware ban
This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and recognizing the challenging times that we are in, students were invited to write a letter to Alameda’s City leaders about what they are grateful for on this Earth Day AND how we can keep improving our climate!
We were blown away by the responses which included appreciation for Alameda’s bike paths, parks and beaches, safe neighborhoods, trees, and beautiful places to walk.
Some of the ways they suggest that we can improve the climate is to choose reusables, bike and walk instead of drive, plant trees, reduce litter, eat less meat, aim for a circular economy, use less water, turn off the lights, and waste less food.
Over 100 letters were delivered to Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and the City Council at the City Council meetings on May 5th and May 19th, 2020.
We are grateful for City Council leadership in making Alameda a model for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. We look forward to being a partner with the City in achieving the goals of Alameda’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan.