Cool Irvine Launch Event on January 13

Ambitious campaign to reach carbon neutrality by 2030

Irvine, Calif.- On January 13, the City of Irvine will launch its Cool Irvine campaign – an ambitious campaign to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. Everyone is invited to join and learn more about being part of the Cool Irvine climate movement.

Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan, along with Congresswoman Katie Porter, will join community members and City of Irvine staff for this milestone launch Thursday, January 13, at 4:30 p.m. The event will provide an opportunity to engage with the creators of the Cool City program, community partners, and residents who have volunteered to take climate action as Cool Block Leaders.

The Cool Irvine launch will be held virtually via Zoom and is open to all residents interested in helping Irvine neighborhoods become more sustainable and disaster resilient. To register, please go to cityofirvine.org/coolcity.

"I'm so excited to launch Cool Irvine and begin this ambitious journey to carbon neutrality by 2030," said Mayor Farrah N. Khan. "With the support of our Irvine community, we have already developed a robust team of Cool Block Leaders and Team Members, and I can't wait to see their efforts in action. However, this is just the beginning as we still need more Irvine residents to join us in implementing this innovative climate action plan to create a more sustainable Irvine for generations to come."

Irvine joins the cities of Los Angeles and Petaluma as awardees in the innovative new Cool City Challenge (CCC) initiative. Developed and funded by the Empowerment Institute, the CCC is a $1 million grant competition among California cities to advance the most innovative pathways to carbon neutrality, including the Cool Block program, which requires recruitment of 200 Cool Block team leaders to lead their neighbors through a shared learning program to improve sustainability and quality of life in their neighborhoods, with an eye toward rapid expansion across the city.

The Cool Block program also reduces climate emissions and utility bills while building resiliency and local emergency preparedness against climate disasters such as extreme heat, floods, wildfires, and extreme storm events that are already worsening considerably worldwide. The strategy developed through the CCC will identify and incentivize innovative climate solutions, create bottom-up change from consumers and connect it to businesses, technology, and policy. This public-private synergy can empower social, environmental, and economic outcomes not previously imagined possible.

To register for the Cool Irvine launch event and learn more about Irvine's ambitious carbon neutral by 2030 efforts, please visit cityofirvine.org/coolcity. To receive the City's quarterly Environmental Programs newsletter, please sign-up here(link is external).