Overview

Social equity, along with the environment and economic vitality, is one of the three pillars of sustainability. LOSN’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion incorporates a strong social equity component.

Goals

Create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community. Embed diversity, equity and inclusion in the LOSN organization.

Partners

• Respond to Racism
• Lake Oswego Library
• Hunger Fighters of Oregon

Projects

1. Collaborate  Candidate forums with Respond to Racism to sponsor Candidate forums
2. Work internally with the LOSN board to embed DEI thinking in LOSN activities and action teams.
3. Organize a quarterly reading group for LOSN and DEI action teams on topics relevant to DEI and sustainability

Areas of Interest

• Educate the community through partnership programs with the LO library.
• Develop relationships with other social equity groups and groups that represent non-dominate races (such as LO For Love, interfaith connections, Hunger Fighters, the Latinx community, and the Asian community)
• Promote dialogue between diverse constituents on thorny issues (such as race and low-income housing)

Overview

Our natural resources are integral to a sustainable society. We all depend on clean air and water and healthy ecosystems to support life. Our community needs to understand the impact of human actions on the environment and be responsible for taking action to protect and improve the natural systems that sustain us.

Healthy Natural Resources are an essential part of addressing climate change

Oftentimes when we think about climate change, we focus on reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Yet human contribution to the rise in carbon emissions in the atmosphere is due not only to burning fossil fuels, but also to the impoverishment of nature’s ability to absorb carbon in soil, trees and other high-carbon ecosystems. The degradation of our lands, including the earth’s fertile agricultural soils, is in itself another massive disaster we humans face. By looking to nature, we can change this trajectory. Natural climate solutions – conservation, restoration, and land management activities – can help revive the environment’s ability to sequester and store carbon. Healthy soils are an intrinsic component of addressing climate change and cooling the earth.

Goals

1.  Support Natural Resources Goals and action items included in theCity of Lake Oswego’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan by partnering with the city and the Oswego Lake Watershed Council (OLWC).
2. Protect and Enhance the Lake Oswego Urban Forest
3. Support the Natural Resource Management Plan for City of Lake Oswego Natural Areas.
4. Reduce the use of toxins (pesticides and herbicides) in landscaping.

• Oswego Lake Watershed Council (OLWC)
• City of Lake Oswego
  • Sustainability Advisory Board
  • Parks and Recreation Department
  • Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
  • Lake Oswego Natural Parks Friends Groups
    • Friends of Iron Mountain
    • Friends of Luscher Farm
    • Friends of Southwood Park
    • Friends of Springbrook Park

Overview

LOSNs’ climate action group promotes policy changes and projects in Lake Oswego that lower our collective carbon footprint. We work to educate the community and to change attitudes, lifestyles and infrastructure. With the climate crisis bringing dire changes to our weather and safety, we must begin decreasing greenhouse gas emissions immediately and continue reducing at a rapid pace.

An opportunity to get involved!

We started a new program — “Electrify LO” —  that focuses on electrification, the key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming. We provide information to make it easier to switch from fossil fuels to clean energy through electrification covering electric vehicles, heat pumps for space and water heating, electric appliances such as induction stoves, electric landscaping equipment and rooftop solar with storage. See our Electrify LO project page for details.

Other strategies for reducing our carbon footprint include improving home energy efficiency, eating a climate-informed diet, and reducing food waste. Read about our work with local, regional, and state government.

A significant achievement for the city was the adoption of the Lake Oswego city climate plan. This multi-year plan, now led by the city staff, incorporates many activities to reduce our carbon footprint. Our efforts align with this plan.

Partners

• City of Lake Oswego
• Lake Oswego School District
• Clackamas County

Projects

• Community Solar
• Electric Landscaping
• Electrify LO
• Electric Vehicles

Resources

• Climate Solutions
• Electrify Now
• RMI

Learn More: How farmers could lead the green energy revolution

Watch an OPB video on Oregon research into expanding solar within the state.