Who We Are
The Sonoma County Climate Activist Network (SoCoCAN!) formed on July 31, 2017 at our first climate activists summit. Our purpose is to unite local groups and concerned citizens so that we can meet this new decade with a clear vision of actions that address the social, political and environmental challenges of our time. Although the tasks before us are challenging, we are fortunate to live in a county that has been at the forefront of progressive and transformative change.
Network Successes
SoCoCAN! has participated in several successful climate campaigns, with these results:
- The County of Sonoma is the first and only county in the U.S. in which all the local jurisdictions -- plus the County itself -- have passed a Climate Emergency Resolution. Six of those jurisdictions (Cloverdale, Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Windsor) have set a target date of 2030 for carbon neutrality.
- Following the Climate Emergency Resolutions, four cities (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sebastopol, and Sonoma) now have official Climate Committees or Commissions. Six have community groups focused on climate policies and actions in their jurisdiction (Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sebastopol, Windsor, Sonoma, and Healdsburg).
- The city of Santa Rosa passed (and successfully defended in court) an All Electric Reach Code ensuring that natural gas will no longer be allowed in new residential construction of three stories or fewer. The city of Petaluma passed an All Electric Reach Code that applies to new construction of all building types and occupancies.
- Following the City of Petaluma’s lead in passing a first-in-the-nation ban on construction of new gas stations in 2021, five other cities - Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Cotati, Santa Rosa, and Windsor, have adopted similar proposals. In March 2023, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to permanently prohibit the construction of new gas stations in all of the unincorporated areas of the County (the regions where there are no cities).
- The City of Petaluma passed a Resolution asking CalPERS to divest from fossil fuels. It is a model for other jurisdictions.
- Petaluma, along with Los Angeles and Irvine, has been selected as one of three “Cool Cities” in California to receive $1 million to be used toward community organizing in support of its ambitious climate and resilience goals.
- Cities throughout the county have committed to Zero Waste ordinances and the county aims to build a centralized, state-of-the-art composting facility.
- The City of Santa Rosa has endorsed California’s Initiative for Public Banking establishing a Public Bank, which could fund projects such as affordable, energy-efficient housing.
- In January, 2021 SoCoCAN! hosted our second summit, It's Up To Us!. Click the Summit link above. When we support each other and work together we succeed!
Join Us!
The best way to join SoCoCAN! is through our listserv.
Send an email to us at:
[email protected].
Let us know if your group or organization would like to be part of the network.
Network support is available for all local climate activism.
We meet in months that have 5 Mondays, 7-9 PM on Zoom.
Network meeting dates in 2024 include January, May, August, October and December.
We invite you to join us!!
Send an email to us at:
[email protected].
Let us know if your group or organization would like to be part of the network.
Network support is available for all local climate activism.
We meet in months that have 5 Mondays, 7-9 PM on Zoom.
Network meeting dates in 2024 include January, May, August, October and December.
We invite you to join us!!