SF Bay Climate Tech: Apr 24 - May 1
Disinformation, Hope, Justice, Hardware, Picnics, and more events this week!
Hi friends,
We hope you had an amazing Climate Week! If you have any energy left, there are some great things coming up. Here are our picks for this week:
Tuesday: hear from incredible journalist and climate storyteller Amy Westervelt on Drilling, Denial, and Disinformation at SF’s Commonwealth Club
Thursday: get hands-on and learn about Building a Hardware Startup in The Bay at Studio 45 in San Francisco
Friday: watch six short plays on climate & justice at Stanford
Saturday: join Young Professionals in Energy for a Family Picnic in Berkeley
Monday: listen to the legendary Rebecca Solnit on changing the climate story from despair to hope in SF
Looking for something else? Climate change & wine (SF), BERC Happy Hour (Oakland), Business Sustainability (SF), Book Signing (Berkeley), Climate in Education (Oakland), Building Decarb (Oakland), EVs (Sunnyvale) and more EVs (Palo Alto).
As always, read on for the full list of this week’s events and a preview of what’s coming up this month!
Cheers,
Alec, Tamar, and Sonam
Eating Climate Change for Breakfast
The food and agricultural industry have long topped lists of climate offending sectors. Understandably so, as about half of all greenhouse gas emissions in the world come from the food system. But food is - or should be - as much a part of the solution as it has been part of the problem. Food-related strategies represent 11 of the top 24 most feasible solutions to climate change. When managed regeneratively, food systems can help reverse global warming by drawing atmospheric carbon down into the soil, thereby lowering temperatures.
What’s a climate-conscious foodie to do to help food systems reach their carbon sinking potential? There are a range of options, among them: a shift to more plant-based diets, healthy calorie consumption, and less food waste. The case for plant-based diets is growing, with a recent explosion in alternative protein startups vying to produce products that will whet even the most carnivorous consumer’s appetite. The climate case for a more plant-based diet revolves around the emissions generated by livestock farming: cow burps and animal manure create higher amounts of methane and nitrous oxide than does the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, plant-based meats, grains, and legumes.
Vegetarians, vegans, and the plant-based curious are accustomed to stock responses in this debate: “I just don’t feel full after a meal without meat.” “Plant-based alternatives don’t taste right.” “It would be rude to reject the meat I’m served at family dinner.” And, simply and most commonly, “I can’t imagine giving up meat.” Those not ready or willing to board the plant-based train will be pleased to discover that there is a role for them, too, in the food system’s climate-friendly future.
Meatlovers in the Bay Area have particular reasons to rejoice, as Northern California is a global epicenter for carbon ranching, a movement that utilizes grass fed beef to restore rangeland. In this regenerative manner of grazing, manure is more evenly spread through a pasture as cattle graze through each section in a controlled manner. Manure and urine feed microbial life in the soil, supporting soil health and plant growth. Healthier plants, in turn, absorb atmospheric carbon and pump it down into the soil where it can be stored for hundreds or thousands of years by soil microorganisms.
Stewards of these practices warn of the consequences of removing grazers from grassland ecosystems. These arid and seasonally dry environments depend on disturbance by grazing animals for vital functions like mulching soil and planting seeds. Intense trampling, which mimics the impact of the wild buffalo herds that once roamed North America’s plains, is effective at healing environmental damage in grasslands and deserts.
While shifting to more plant-based diets can help individuals reduce their carbon footprints, opting out of the system won’t change how meat is produced. Both consumer awareness and systemic change are key pieces in the puzzle of transforming our food system from an emissions source to an emissions sink. More so than focusing on what food we eat, we must engage with how it was grown. By driving toward a more circular and regenerative food system, we can ensure each meal is as palatable for the planet as for our stomachs.
Events This Week
🧑🌾 Digital Farming and AgTech Ecosystem: Mon, Apr 24
🍃 Sustainability & Equity in Urban Development: Mon, Apr 24
🛢 Amy Westervelt on Drilling, Denial, and Disinformation: Tue, Apr 25
🍷 How a Changing Climate Is Altering the Way We Drink: Tue, Apr 25
⚡️ BERC Alumni Happy Hour: Tue, Apr 25
🌿 SFHub : INSEAD Business Sustainability Series: Wed, Apr 26
📖 Book Signing - Social Forestry by Tomi Hazel Vaarde: Wed, Apr 26
✏️ Agency by Design Oakland's Culture & Climate Fellowship Expo: Wed, Apr 26
🔌 Building Electrification and Decarbonization: Thu, Apr 27
🤖 Building a Hardware Startup in The Bay: Thu, Apr 27
🎭 Planet Earth Arts New Play Festival: Plays on Climate & Justice: Fri, Apr 28
🚗 EV Ride and Drive: Electrify your Ride: Sat, Apr 29
🧺 YPE Family Picnic: Sat, Apr 29
🚙 EVs and Espresso! Electric Vehicle Expo: Sun, Apr 30
Read on for more details about this week’s happenings and upcoming events this month
Events This Month
🌱 Rebecca Solnit - The Climate Story from Despair to Hope: Mon, May 1
🍀 Sustainability Reception: Wed, May 3
🌍 Climate Displacement: Feminist Refugee Perspectives: Thu, May 4
🔌 1.5°C - Grid Infrastructure: Thu, May 4
👗 SAPAAC X DEPLOY 360 Sustainability Masterclass & Salon: Sat, May 6
🚶♀️ May 7th Fairfield Sustainability Walking Tour: Sun, May 7
⚡️ YPE Scholarship Recruitment & Networking: Wed, May 10
⚖️ From Congo to Oakland: Connecting for Climate Justice: Wed, May 10
♻️ North Bay Zero Waste Symposium: Thu, May 11
🏆 Business Environmental Awards Celebration Event: Thu, May 11
📖 Sustainability X Leadership Book Club: Fri, May 12
🎋 Climate Parables: Fri, May 12
🚗 Goodbye Gas, Hello EVs!: Sat, May 13
🌳 ClimateTech Panel Discussion: Wed, May 17
🏢 Climate Legislation & Building Decarbonization: Thu, May 18
♻️ Recology San Francisco Public Tour: Mon, May 22
⛈️ Designing Roof Drainage for Climate Change: Tue, May 23
🍷 Inaugural Napa Climate Summit: MOVING FORWARD FASTER: Wed, May 24
💸 Launch Conference: Global Center for Sustainable Digital Finance: Fri, May 26
♻️ Recology San Francisco Public Tour: Wed, Jun 14
Events This Week
🧑🌾 Digital Farming and AgTech Ecosystem
When: Mon, Apr 24th at 9:00 AM to Fri, Apr 28th at 5:00 PM
Where: Silicon Valley, 1850 Gateway Drive San Mateo, CA 94404
Designed specifically for city agencies and industry experts, the program includes 5 full days of an immersive experience with the most innovative startups, industry leaders and experts who will give you exclusive insights into the technology-driven transformation for the future of digital farming.
🍃 Sustainability & Equity in Urban Development: Speaker Panel Discussion
When: Mon, Apr 24th from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Where: Dwinelle Hall South Drive Berkeley, CA 94720
BEACN is excited to host a panel discussing Sustainability & Equity in Urban Development, featuring experts in the space from both public and private entities. The intent of this event is to dive into emergent solutions in built environment decarbonization, with a special focus on electrification. In so doing, we will dive into the technological and business challenges impacting the adoption of such technologies, before analyzing related accessibility & affordability concerns.
🛢 Amy Westervelt on Drilling, Denial, and Disinformation
When: Tue, Apr 25th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Where: The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
Amy Westervelt has made a career out of exploring the underbelly of the oil industry through complex and compelling storytelling. From her investigative series Drilled to her latest project Light Sweet Crude, focused on the new wave of "oil colonialism," Westervelt dives deep into the true crimes of the fossil fuel industry’s biggest players, including their misinformation campaigns regarding the climate emergency. As executive producer of the independent podcast production company Critical Frequency, her narrative podcasts shine a light on stories oil companies would rather keep in the dark.
🍷 How a Changing Climate Is Altering the Way We Drink
When: Tue, Apr 25th from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Where: The Commonwealth Club, 110 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105
Join us as Brian Freedman, author of the new book Crushed, looks at what global warming could mean for your favorite bottle of wine. He’ll be joined in conversation by winemakers from Larkmead, Iron Horse, and Hutch wineries, who will share firsthand experiences of how they are adapting to climate change. Join us for the conversation on the future of wine, and for a special wine tasting curated by our speakers.
⚡️ BERC Alumni Happy Hour
When: Tue, Apr 25th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Kingfish Pub & Cafe, 5227 Telegraph Avenue Oakland, CA 94609
What better way to celebrate than with your old and new friends at Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative? BERC will be hosting an Alumni Happy Hour for past and current members to mingle and reconnect before the summer
🌿 SFHub : INSEAD Business Sustainability Series Part I: Master Class
When: Wed, Apr 26th from 7:15 AM to 9:55 AM
Where: 224 Townsend Street San Francisco, CA 94107
Join us for an hybrid event at the INSEAD San Francisco Hub - we will watch together the first Webinar from the INSEAD Business Sustainability Series led by Prof. Karel Cool - " Sustainability as a Strategic Opportunity" and we will continue the discussion over breakfast with Prof. Karel Cool.
📖 Book Signing and Viewing - Social Forestry by Tomi Hazel Vaarde
When: Wed, Apr 26th from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Where: Ecology Center EcoStore, 2530 San Pablo Avenue Suite H, Berkeley, CA 94702
The Ecology Center and book publisher, Synergetic Press, present the official release of Tomi Hazel Vaarde's book, Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People of Place with an intimate book signing with renowned author, Tomi Hazel Vaarde. For anyone who is experiencing overwhelm in the face of uncertainty, eco-grief and climate anxiety about droughts, wildfires, and the continued degradation of our planet, this book is critical.
✏️ Agency by Design Oakland's Culture & Climate Fellowship Expo
When: Wed, Apr 26th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Where: Montera Middle School, 5555 Ascott Drive, Oakland, CA 94605
Culture & Climate teams from OUSD's Middle School Network have participated in a year-long fellowship centered around using Street Data and Liberatory Design cycles for equity to increase students' sense of joy and belonging in our middle schools. Come and join us as we celebrate the work that teams have done to address complex challenges at their school sites, as well as gain inspiration as we move towards building more joyful educational experiences for our young people.
🔌 Building Electrification and Decarbonization
When: Thu, Apr 27th from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Where: Lowney Architecture, 360 17th Street Oakland, CA 94612
As the world faces the effects of Climate Change the building industry is changing its design and construction practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (decarbonize). This session will explore why building electrification is a key pathway to building decarbonization, which combined with a renewable grid and energy generation will have California reach carbon neutrality by 2045. This session details the barriers to building electrification, California energy code updates, MEP technology and smart design strategies to achieve cost conscious and carbon efficient all-electric buildings. The session ends with all-electric example projects including offices, schools, laboratories, and multifamily residential.
🤖 Building a Hardware Startup in The Bay
When: Thu, Apr 27th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Where: Studio 45, 45 29th Street San Francisco, CA 94110
Join us for a double header of panels about the places where hardware startups are launching in the Bay Area and the founders launching them. Our first panel will feature the founders of physical spaces where hardware startups are getting their start. The second will feature founders in the thick of scaling their own hardware startups. We'll have plenty of time for networking with other hardware professionals at the beginning and end of the event, as well as delicious southern comfort food like fried chicken and collard greens.
🎭 2023 Planet Earth Arts New Play Festival 6 Short Plays on Climate & Justice
When: Fri, Apr 28th at 7:30 PM to Sun, Apr 30th at 4:30 PM
Where: The Nitery, 514 Lasuen Mall Stanford, CA 94305.
Planet Earth Arts is in its ninth year as a powerful interdisciplinary residency program at Stanford centering on environmental and social/racial justice as the most urgent issues of our time - while exploring the future of all life through the lens of theater, the arts, and human creativity.
🚗 EV Ride and Drive: Electrify your Ride
When: Sat, Apr 29th from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Where: Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E Remington Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Experience electric vehicles and take one for a test drive or ride. At this event you’ll have the opportunity to sit in, ride, or drive electric vehicles to experience the joy of switching to electric firsthand. Have all your questions answered about the vehicles, charging, and the financial incentives available.
🧺 YPE Family Picnic
When: Sat, Apr 29th from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: Big Leaf Picnic Ground, Central Park Drive Berkeley, CA 94708.
After a winter of historic rainfall, we’re ready to get outside and celebrate the earth! Join Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) SF Bay Area for a family-friendly cookout and field day! Here at YPE, we get a lot of questions about what we define as “young”. We generally share that our programming is designed to target earlier in their career professionals and that all ages are welcome. For this event, we decided something special for our youngest members (the kiddos) was overdue! Bring your kids, pets, and loved ones to enjoy the fresh air and meet new energy professionals.
🚙 EVs and Espresso! Electric Vehicle Expo
When: Sun, Apr 30th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Where: Congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Come meet your electric future at this fun and informative EV expo. Acterra's EV owner-volunteers will provide their EVs for viewing and exploring. EVs for every need and budget will be on display, from luxury to sporty to budget-friendly.
Join the Fun!
Submit Events
We know all of you are cooking up great events across that highlight the latest and greatest in our collective effort to save our city - and our planet! 🌍 We would love to spread the word. Please share any event details and we'll add them to the list!
Climate Tech Cities
We are expanding! We started as an 8-person dinner and now have over 4,000 members in our community. We’ve had people across the world reach out to us to start their own chapters - so we’re launching a new Climate Tech Cities organization this year! If you have friends who are interested in becoming chapter leads, please share the word. Here’s to a global network of local communities making a positive impact!
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