Mission

To effect transformative local climate action through community engagement.

Our Goals

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate 100% clean renewable energy consumption by all sectors on the Santa Monica Community. Support adoption of technologies that reduce carbon emissions.
  • Support policies, practices and built infrastructure that create a climate friendly future Santa Monica for all.
  • Engage the community in opportunities to take meaningful action through jobs, advocacy, events, and demonstration of solutions that inspire and motivate others.

History

CASM was founded in spring 2013 by a group of Santa Monica residents concerned about the growing threat of climate change. Together they sought ways to engage and educate the community, to help them better understand the complex factors involved in climate change, its effects, and ways that it can be addressed on the local level. We formed in partnership with the Church at Ocean Park, while CASM currently works with Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE) as its fiscal partner.

Programs

CASM has run Climate Corps, a summer climate action program for high-school and college-aged youth, since 2016. CASM also runs ongoing outreach and advocacy programs in support of Santa Monica’s Climate Action and Adaptation plan. We have organized educational forums related to water, community energy initiatives, rooftop solar and more. We convene a regular working group related to Energy and advise the regional Transportation Management Organization.

CASM Steering Committee

 

Laurene Von Klan – CASM Co-Chair and Executive Director, Nonprofit Management Professional, and Certified Dog Trainer
Kent Strumpell – CASM Co-Chair, Bicycling Advocate, and Urban Planning Activist
Judy Abdo – Former Santa Monica Mayor;  Rep. to  Metropolitan Water District

CASM Climate Jobs Corps

Mario Melgarejo – Community Engagement Coordinator, Sustainable Urban Planning  Activist.                                                                                                                                  Nancy Sanchez – Climate Action Fellow, Anthropologist.                                                     Jasmine Contreras                                                                                                                        Isis Haynes 

CASM Advisory Board

The advisory committee of Climate Action Santa Monica is made up of community members from across Santa Monica and the region who give their talents, passion, and years of wisdom to the organization to further its mission and extend its reach. The current advisory committee is as follows.

Tara Barauskas – Executive Director, Community Corporation of Santa Monica
Stuart Cooley – Retired Professor of Renewable Energies with the Sustainable Technologies Program at Santa Monica College
Rev. Jim Conn – Former Church in Ocean Park Minister & Former Santa Monica Mayor
Jim Dodenhoff – Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Developer, Silent Running LLC
Zachary Gaidzik – Environmentalist and Public Outreach Activist
Gina Garcia – Co-Director, Sustainable Works
Albin Gielicz – Marketing Professional, Environmentalist and Community Activist
Laura Gillette – Nonprofit Management and Fundraising Professional; Environmentalist
Cris Gutierrez – Climate Corps Project Manager, CPA Community Advisory Committee Member, EcoPeace Community Educator-Activist
Kurt Holland – Secondary Sci. Inst., CSU Long Beach; CSTA; Coast & Ocean Steward
Ben Kay – Marine Biology Teacher, SaMoHi/SMC, and Environmental Activist
Katharine King –  Concert & Event Producer; Environmental Advocate, former CASM Co-Chair
Dean Kubani – Former Santa Monica Chief Sustainability Officer, Current Chair of the Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment
Robert Lempert – Rand Corporation Senior Scientist and Noble Prize Laureate
Jing Liu – Geography Professor teaching Physical Geography and GIS (Geographical Information Science) at Santa Monica College
Rev. Janet McKeithan – Church in Ocean Park Minister
Bill Selby – Retired Santa Monica College Professor of Geography and Earth Science
Amy Sullivan – Nutrition & Wellness Coach, Marketing Expert, Yoga Teacher, Vegan Food Blogger, Environment and Animal Activist
Michael Tarbet – Lawyer, Environmental Advocate and Community Organizer
Talia Tinari  – Community Gardening Organizer, Climate Reality Project Leader
Belinda Waymouth – Environmental Journalist and Advocate
Natalya Zernitskaya – President, League of Women Voters of Santa Monica
John Zinner – Principal, Zinner Consultants; LEED Fellow.