San José State University Commits to Participation in Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative

San José State University is joining a cross-sector network of public agencies, academia, nonprofit and community-based organizations, and business and community leaders to advance regional solutions to climate change, committing to participate in the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative. The Collaborative's goal is to advance regional solutions to climate change through resource and expertise sharing, joint-funding opportunities and partnership development.

"As the university representative to the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, I am honored to help advance San José State University's commitment to regional climate action," says Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Studies Sophie Kelmenson. "This initiative creates meaningful opportunities to align our research, teaching and community partnerships in support of countywide efforts to develop strategies that reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and advance long-term sustainability across the region. I look forward to working alongside partners across the county to develop solutions that are collaborative, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of our diverse communities."

As part of the agreement, San José State will help the collaborative work towards its vision through the following goals:

Goal 1: Sustain a diverse impact network of staff from Santa Clara County public agencies and organizations to advance regional climate projects, programs and policies.

Goal 2: Develop and formalize partnerships to coordinate and fund programs and projects that enhance the county's ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Goal 3: Empower communities through inclusive decision-making processes that provide culturally responsive engagement and capacity building to support the integration of equity and climate justice in the collaborative.

Goal 4: Prioritize natural and nature-based climate solutions to promote regional resilience.

By organizing at the countywide scale, San José State and the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative will amplify solutions and enable transformative change across individuals, communities, institutions, and the region as a whole.

For more information on the Santa Clara County Climate Collaborative, visit climatecollaborativescc.org .