News Release Dec. 4, 2019

LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT RESOLUTION Transitioning Los Angeles Unified School District to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy Resulting in Healthier Students and More Sustainable, Equitable Communities (Res-018-19/20) 

In concert with Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board Members Scott Schmerelson, Jackie Goldberg and Dr. George McKenna III, the Los Angeles chapter of the Climate Reality Project spearheaded an initiative to pass a resolution to transition LAUSD to 100% Clean Renewable Energy: Electricity by 2030; all other energy usages including cooking, boilers, HVAC and transportation no later than 2040. 

Co-sponsored by Board Members Schmerelson, Goldberg and McKenna the resolution was introduced on November 5, 2019, with the final board vote taking place at LAUSD’s open public meeting on December 3, 2019. With leadership and support from Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Krekorian, the resolution passed unanimously, endorsed by many hundreds of LAUSD students, teachers, parents and administrators, along with many climate/environmental justice and public health groups. (see list below) 

LAUSD is the second largest school district in the country with more than 600,000 students enrolled in more than 1,000 schools with more than 26,000 teachers. LAUSD schools and facilities are the single largest consumer of electricity in Los Angeles. Transitioning to a 100% clean renewable energy profile, LAUSD will decrease greenhouse gas emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons annually. 

As LAUSD students face increased numbers of absences as a result of wildfires, asthma and other respiratory/medical issues, caused by green house gas emissions and the consequences of the climate crisis, the prospect of LAUSD contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future, by transitioning away from dirty fossil fuels and into clean renewable energy, will inspire and empower our children in ways that are beyond measure. 

"Given the realities of the climate crisis and how critical it is that everyone get on board, virtually everywhere we turned, we met with enthusiastic support and a willingness to assist us in getting this done,” Climate Reality Project Los Angeles Chapter co-chair Michael Zelniker and chapter co-lead Sybil Azur said. “We are profoundly grateful to the many Los Angeles Unified students, teachers, parents and activists who are members of our very large and committed coalition. Led by Board Members Schmerelson, Goldberg and McKenna, Los Angeles Unified transitioning to 100% clean, renewable energy will benefit our students, our families and communities in profoundly positive ways."  

LAUSD 100% Clean Renewable Energy Resolution Coalition Partners

Climate Reality Project
Climate Parents Sierra Club
Communities for a Better Environment
Pacoima Beautiful
United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)
31st District PTA (San Fernando Valley PTA’s)
The Sunrise Movement
Mothers Out Front
This is Zero Hour
SoCal 350
5 Gyres
Food & Water Watch
Kiss the Ground
Habits of Waste
350 Conejo San Fernando Valley
Climate Hawks Vote
Green Schools Alliance
USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council)
Green 4 All
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter

*List does not include the dozens of schools and many hundreds of individual LAUSD students, parents and teachers.