City Council received a briefing this week on the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Advisory Committees. The briefing included an update on the selection process, slate of candidates, and a recommendation to include two (2) additional seats for representatives in the energy and automotive industries.
In January 2019, when the City released a draft CAAP Plan, the Chamber immediately began meeting with City Council members to express disappointment with the lack of business community engagement in developing the plan. We also communicated concern about the economic impact of going carbon neutral by 2050 and the financial burden such a change will have on the myriad of businesses that employ thousands of citizens in San Antonio. Ultimately, the plan was revised and adopted on October 17, 2019 by Ordinance 2019-10-17-0840.
To continue to receive community input for CAAP strategy prioritization and implementation, the City established a Technical and Community Advisory Committee and a Climate Equity Advisory Committee. Members of both committees are being selected based on technical expertise in elements related to climate mitigation and adaptation or other important areas related to plan implementation; representation of important perspectives; and an interest in collaboration to bring about successful outcomes. The process and structure for the committees were approved by City Council on December 12, 2019, and the selection process is currently underway.
The Technical and Community Advisory Committee will be comprised of twenty one (21) representatives, fifteen (15) at-large and six (6) organizational members appointed by the Mayor and City Council, as recommended by the Community Health and Equity Committee (CHEC) sub-committee, the City Manager’s Office, the Office of Equity, and the Office of Sustainability. Organizational members include:
- CPS Energy
- San Antonio Water System
- VIA Metropolitan Transit
- San Antonio River Authority
- Joint Base San Antonio
- Chair or Vice-Chair of the SA Climate Ready Climate Equity Advisory Committee.
The mission for this Committee includes advising City Staff and City Council on the implementation of the CAAP, and long-term sustainability plans, such as the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan. The Committee is designed to provide expertise, diverse perspectives, and input regarding implementation of the CAAP as the City works to achieve greenhouse gas reduction and adaptation goals.
The Climate Equity Advisory Committee will be comprised of eleven (11) representatives; ten (10) from community-based organizations and other key stakeholders representing the interests of low-income populations, communities of color, and other marginalized populations, and the Chair or Vice-Chair of the SA Climate Ready Technical and Community Advisory Committee. Members will be appointed by the Mayor and City Council as recommended by the CHEC sub-committee, the City Manager’s Office, the Office of Equity, and Office of Sustainability. The ethical framework grounding the CAAP is climate equity, prioritizing the communities burdened the most by climate change, those that contribute the least to climate change, and those most socially vulnerable to it. The mission for this Committee includes advising City staff and City Council on the advancement of equity-centered implementation of the CAAP and long-term sustainability plans, such as the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan.
The Community Health and Equity Committee (CHEC) sub-committee, with support from the Office of Sustainability and the Office of Equity, conducted interviews with candidates for both committees from late June - mid-August. On August 28, City staff presented the recommended slate of candidates along with a recommendation to include two (2) seats for the energy and automotive industries.
The Chamber has since convened a group of business representatives in the energy and automotive industries to identify and put forth two community leaders we collectively believe will contribute significantly to the work of the Technical and Community Advisory Committee. Additionally, we are strongly advocating that the Southwest Research Institute be included as an organization member.
The application for the two (2) additional slots is available now. Interviews are said to take place tomorrow and early next week. City Council will vote on the full slate of candidates next Thursday, October 8 at A-Session. Count on your Chamber to keep you updated.
For more information, please contact Stephanie Reyes, VP of Public Policy at sreyes@sachamber.org or by phone at 210-299-2162.
