(Contributed photo)
WATSONVILLE — The City of Watsonville was recognized on a statewide level last week for its efforts in addressing climate change.
On Thursday, the city received two Beacon awards during the League of California Cities’ annual conference in Sacramento.
Watsonville received a Platinum Beacon Award for its 24.5 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 2005-2010, which city officials attribute to the closing of specific industrial facilities.
It also received a Gold Beacon Award for reducing its energy use by 16.6 percent from 2010-2016 at city facilities, such as installing efficient lighting projects.
The Beacon Program is a program of the Institute for Local Government, the nonprofit research and education affiliate of the California State Association of Counties and the League of California Cities. The Beacon Program honors voluntary efforts made by local governments to save energy and reduce greenhouse gases.
The Watsonville City Council agreed to join the program in May.
Rachel Kippen, environmental special projects coordinator for the city, submitted the application for Watsonville to receive the awards.
“We started with these two awards, and we will keep on moving up to different award levels as we continuously improve, and the Beacon program will support us through that process,” she said.
The awards recognize the city’s “proactive stance on climate,” Kippen said.
In June, Watsonville joined mayors from more than 7,400 cities across the planet in an alliance called the Global Covenant of Mayors. The group pledges to uphold the goals of the Paris Agreement, a 2015 global pact that aims to keep global temperatures from rising another degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) between now and 2100.
In February 2015, the city council approved the Climate Action Plan, which sets goals to provide pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly neighborhoods, increased transportation options, improved energy efficiency, reduced waste, increased recycling and protection of open space.
“To me, the fact that we joined this program shows that it is not lip service because we will continue to take measurable steps forward,” Kippen said.
Most of the Watsonville City Council attended Thursday’s conference, including Councilwoman Rebecca Garcia, who accepted the awards for the council.
“These two awards signify the successful programs and hard work by our staff to create a healthy clean environment for Watsonville,” she said. “The council is committed to make this happen.”
