News Blog

While the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner tells of the misfortunes of a seaman and suggests that despite being surrounded by something, you cannot benefit from it, the tale of ocean desalination suggests the same.  The South Coast Water District’s proposed Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant in South Orange County is an excellent example of this conundrum.

While sewage is sent to treatment facilities to be cleaned before it is discharged, stormwater flows over streets, through storm drains, and out into receiving waters, picking up bacteria, metals, trash, and other pollutants along the way. This leads to serious water quality issues throughout the Los Angeles region that threaten public and environmental health.

You can help decide the direction of the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization by voting in the Sierra Club’s annual board of directors election. 

In January, the City of Hawthorne voted unanimously for 100% renewable energy as their default rate while Hermosa Beach voted to join the Clean Power Alliance, thanks in part to the advocacy of the chapter’s Clean Break team. In Orange County, Buena Park became the first city in Orange County to make 100% renewable energy its default, becoming the first member of the Orange County Power Authority to do so. 

West Hollywood Single-Use Plastic Ban Ordinance Passes Unanimously!

While the rest of California advances towards clean energy, the City of Glendale is threatening to move in the opposite direction considering an outdated and irresponsible approach focused on investment in fossil fuel combustion.

Last month (December), L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti along with Los Angeles City Council members demonstrated their commitment to combat Climate Change and eradicate existing air pollution that plagues communities all over Los Angeles by introducing an Energy Justice motion. The motion calls on recommendations for carbon emission elimination strategies in new and existing buildings in accordance with energy and housing justice principles

The following is a report from a local Long Beach student who attended one of the chapter’s regular hikes at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve. A huge thank you to Wilson High biology teacher, Ms. Cunradi, who often encourages students to join her on our hikes, and to Nick for his thoughtful write-up. We hope to see you back out on the trails soon!

We are looking for environmentally inclined individuals who have an interest in digital marketing and digital strategies with an ambition to participate in the creation of video interview and podcasts then reorganize the content into snack size video and memes for broader social media

Community Membership starts with local participation. As a member of the Sierra Club, your participation makes a huge difference. Please review your emails, find your ballot, click on the link, check out candidates and follow the instructions to vote. If you cannot find your ballot just call our Chapter office in LA at (213) 387-4287 and ask for one between 9am and 5pm or leave a message after hours. Your participation is important and the survival of the Sierra Club depends on this simple action.

The Cities of Los Angeles and Irvine have been chosen as two of three CA cities to participate in the Cool City Challenge to create a climate moonshot strategy — an ambitious, exploratory, and ground-breaking approach to reach communitywide, inclusive sustainability. Both Cities partnered with over 25 community organizations and registered more than 200 volunteers each, including many Sierra Club folks, who are interested and committed to local climate action. Cool Block teams will meet, discuss, and implement sustainability concepts on topics related to energy efficiency, water conservation, emergency preparedness, social justice, and more.

A major oil spill off the Orange County coast has reportedly spilled at least 126,000 gallons of oil into coastal waters and local wetlands.

Sierra Club Angeles Chapter activists react to historic vote to phase out oil drilling in unincorporated Los Angeles.

We need volunteers with an interest in coastal issues and coastal law to commit time to rebuild our coastal conservation committee in LA and Orange Counties as part of the larger CCC Coastal Committee.

September marks the end of summer, then the beginning of school, and a special weekend when all of coastal California shows our gratitude for the beauty and wonder of great coastal places by rolling up our sleeves and cleaning litter, debris, and a remarkable amount of garbage.