Wildfires, floods and tropical storms – the shadow of climate change looms over Los Angeles ever drawing closer. Mayor Karen Bass takes action, announcing progress towards a more eco-friendly Los Angeles following NYC Climate Week 2023. 

“Just last month, we were faced with a tropical storm in Los Angeles, the first in decades, which was a stark reminder that we must continue to combat the climate crises,” Bass said in a press release.

Bass’s efforts are appreciated in our community. Science teacher Daniella Ellingson, HW science teacher and head of environmental club adviser, voices her support on the initiatives.

“I am glad to see Mayor Bass putting an effort into greening Los Angeles. It appears there are a lot of great things on the agenda that will help with a zero-emission, clean air vision for the city in various zip codes, including Watts and the Port of Los Angeles.” Ellingson said.

While these efforts are a large step forward in aiding the environment, there is always room to grow and go even further. 

“While the increase in electrification around the city is great, there’s also a huge environmental cost that comes with supplying the demand for lithium-ion batteries. I see that some of Bass’s plan includes small increases in hydrogen power, which is crucial in mitigating the issues with lithium mining and extraction. I would love to see even more emphasis on hydrogen power, including the call for the development of more hydrogen-powered cars.” Ellingson said.

Ellingson also noticed that the initiative was lacking in the use and regulation of water which is a growing concern in the LA community. 

“What I don’t see in the press release is mention of water. I hope that is on Mayor Bass’s agenda, as well. I think greening Los Angeles must include stricter regulations on water use, grass lawns, and non-native plant use. We need to retrofit the city with better storm and wastewater collection and officially pass the Direct Potable Reuse Regulations (water reclamation for drinking water) this year,” Ellingson said. 

The Mayor has made climate action a priority since taking office. Her goals include further electrifying the transportation system, decarbonizing power generation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from commercial and residential buildings. 

“I will continue to lead Los Angeles to a new era of sustainability that supports frontline communities while making major investments in energy efficiency and creating thousands of good-paying jobs in the process,” Bass said. 

Her efforts can be seen in the transportation system as more than 25% of new cars sold in Los Angeles Country are electric vehicles in the city’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally in August Los Angeles launched the first 100% electric full size street sweeper in the United States. To aid in affordability Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is providing a $4.6 million in community emission reduction grant programs that fund the installation of cool roofs, solar arrays, electric vehicles and charging stations. While the mayor has made considerable progress during her time in office, she said she hopes that this will only be the beginning of action taken. 

 “There is still much work to be done to ensure we continue to make accelerated progress towards our clean air goals and I look forward to continuing the work with our community stakeholders and elected partners to deliver on the promise of a green Los Angeles,” Bass said.