County takes action on climate, seeks to involve students

PHOTO: The Yolo County Climate Action Commission will advise the Board of Supervisors on how to reach the county’s 2030 climate positive goal. 

By Ayisi Ni,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Yolo County is turning to experts and community members for guidance on how to combat climate change. The newly founded Yolo County Climate Action Commission had its first meeting on Sept. 30 to discuss its role in climate change action. 

County organizations influential in steering climate policy, such as the Yolo Climate Emergency Coalition, have been advocating for such a commission for a few years. Robin Datel was involved in the organization before she was nominated for a YCCAC commissioner post representing parts of Davis. 

“We had our first meeting with seven people appointed to the commission, there will be two more community members and probably two additional subject matter specialists,” Datel said. 

Don Saylor, a member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, has done extensive work on climate policy while holding public policy in Davis and county-wide. 

“It is my hope that this commission will bring together community members, across all different backgrounds, to combat climate change,” Saylor said. 

YCCAC commissioners will vote on issues on the commission first, before recommending a course of action for the board. There have been discussions for some youth to be voting members of the commission.

“You know, we want you guys to ask for a seat at the table,” said Juliette Beck, an activist with the YCEC. “We must build an intergenerational climate movement for it to truly succeed.”

 According to Datel, there have been applications to YCCAC from UC Davis students to sit on the commission as at-large community representatives. However, no high school students are currently in sight for a YCCAC seat as applications being considered have already been turned in. 

“We really want to involve students in this process, and we really want to encourage and teach them to uphold their civic duties,” Datel said. 

Aside from the voting members of YCCAC, many community members are expected to take part in “working groups”, in which volunteers will turn the commission’s goals into concrete reality. 

“It’s just the hard work. Just roll up [our sleeves to our] elbows and get to work,” Beck said. She encourages high school students to take part in these groups, which will include topics from environmental preservation to community trust-building. 

Davis High junior Luca Maes, president of Climate Action Club, believes that many students will be interested in being part of these working groups and will advertise these opportunities to DHS students. 

“I’m going to do my best to encourage others to join, as it’s great to have voices in this game that do not belong to scientists or politicians,” Maes said.