Collaborating for a Clean Future
Where we live, it’s easy to take the environment for granted. But the fact is, air pollution and poor water quality persists and we recognize the need to do our part to preserve and enhance the region’s communities for future generations.
Learn how we're working to improve our environment.
For information about our approach to sustainability, visit our Sustainability page.
Volunteerism
Improving our environment starts at the neighborhood level. Our employees volunteer their time each month for projects that need more boots on the ground. Our dedicated employees take pride in our community and aspire to be good neighbors through actions big and small.
See the Team Sempra/SDG&E Environmental All Stars in action during the last year.
Green Team
SDG&E has an active employee Green Team dedicated to various aspects of sustainability. Each year, they help organize initiatives targeted at improving environmental and sustainability awareness throughout the company. The Green Team organizes:
- The SDG&E Earth Fair
- Bike to Work Day
- Ride Share Day
They also participate in SANDAG’s iCommute program and received Gold Tier recognition in 2018 for SDG&E’s efforts with carpooling, biking to work, transit, and electric vehicles. As a result of Green Team efforts, SDG&E also become a Bronze-Level Bike Friendly Business through the League of American Cyclists in 2018 to further promote sustainable transportation in the community.
Environmental Champions
We’re proud of providing resources to nearly 100 environmental non-profit organizations to help them advance their mission to improve the environment. It’s not about charity, it’s about investing in the people and organizations that are making positive contributions to the environment. Learn more.
Educating Youth about Climate Science - Climate Science Alliance
More than 200 organizations have joined the Climate Science Alliance and they receive training on how to interpret climate resiliency to different audiences. Through their Climate Kids program, Climate Science Alliance has reached more than 26,000 youth in 2018 alone. Their programs are actionable, giving people hope, and the tools to make a difference.
Connecting Kids to the Ocean - Ocean Discovery Institute
Ocean Discovery Institute empowers young people from diverse backgrounds through science-based exploration of the ocean and the urban environment. In 2018 the Living Lab opened to the public, dramatically increasing the Institute’s capacity to provide meaningful environmental education to City Heights youth. Students that go through the Living Lab come away understanding the importance of clean water and recognizing that trash in their community will eventually make its way to the ocean through San Diego’s vast system of watersheds. We support these educational programs that inspire kids to dream big and pursue careers in ocean conservation, restoration ecology, and other similar fields, creating the next generation of conservation professionals.
Reducing Food Waste - San Diego Food System Alliance
The San Diego Food System Alliance is working to develop and maintain an equitable, healthy and sustainable food system in San Diego County. Their projects focus on reducing food waste by promoting the best use for food surplus. San Diego County is home to more small-scale farm operations than anywhere else in the nation, and the Alliance is mobilizing those farmers to adopt carbon farming methods that will help to sequester carbon while producing local, nutritious food. We’re proud to support innovative GHG reduction efforts and waste reduction programs with the Alliance and their members.
Community Partnerships
Clean water, clean air, clean energy, climate change, open space, and natural habitat – they’re all connected and they all have experts. We help activate these experts and convene regional dialogues, workshops, forums and conferences to develop well-rounded solutions to improve the environment. We also develop multi-faceted ongoing partnerships to encourage systems change that reduce impacts to our planet and our future.
San Diego County Watershed Summit
The San Diego County Watershed Summit brings more than 300 stakeholders representing nonprofits, educators, regulators, utilities, municipalities, environmental agencies, water and wastewater districts, tribal leaders and other environmental advocates. We joined an advisory committee made up of local environmental leaders plan the annual Summit, highlighting successful environmental education programs; methodologies to furthering the protection, preservation, and enhancement of local ecosystems; and providing meaningful dialogue on San Diego’s environmental future.
San Diego Climate Summit
In March 2018, we joined local leaders and environmental experts gather for inaugural climate summit, hosted by Climate Science Alliance in partnership with Scripps Institution of Oceanography and SDG&E. San Diego is home to more than 200 threatened or endangered species, making it one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. With climate change impacting that biodiversity and our way of life, more than 200 individuals gathered for the inaugural San Diego Climate Summit. The summit provided an in-depth look at how climate change impacts our region’s environment by bringing together climatologists, ecologists, nonprofit and public agency staff, and tribal and business leaders. The Summit also previewed recently released research as part of California’s Fourth Climate Change Assessment, looking at the ecological impacts of climate change on San Diego as a biological hotspot. That full report can be viewed here.
American Lung Association
Poor air quality from pollution can have major health consequences, especially for small children and the elderly. In fact, the American Lung Association reports that air pollution leads to increased rates of asthma, urgent care visits and even hospitalization. That’s why the American Lung Association’s work has expanded from no smoking to a more holistic view of air quality and programs that have a positive effect on the air we breathe. Supporting the shift of the transportation sector to zero emission vehicles, like electric cars is a high priority for the American Lung Association and for SDG&E.
Expanding San Diego's Tree Canopy
San Diego’s tree canopy is estimated at only 10 percent, yet our Climate Action Plan calls for 35 percent tree canopy coverage by 2035. SDG&E is supporting two organizations – the Balboa Park Conservancy and Tree San Diego in their efforts to plant trees and teach proper tree care to improve tree survival. Trees play an important role in our climate, providing shade and absorbing carbon. Our support has allowed the Balboa Park Conservancy to plant more trees in Balboa Park, an area that lost a significant number of trees during the recent drought. We’re also teaming up with Tree San Diego for their Terrific Trees program, educating youth about the importance of trees and teaching them valuable lessons in how to care for trees.
Useful Links
Understand our approach to sustainability and what we're doing to ensure a sustainable future.