Last month, under the leadership of Ann Moore, the San Diego Unified Port District took a big step towards addressing climate change and pollution in San Diego when the Board of Port Commissioners unanimously adopted a Climate Action Plan.

The plan is so significant because it charts a course of action to lower the Port's greenhouse gas emissions-- the pollution responsible for causing climate change -- and sets an example for the rest of San Diego. Climate change and pollution from the Port both have huge health impacts on the region, especially neighboring low-income communities of color. With its location along the waterfront, as a center and facilitator of global goods shipping and a home to a mix of heavy, polluting industries as well as waterfront tourism businesses, the Port stands as a cause of climate change as well as a future victim.

Specifically, the Port's climate plan sets targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2035 and identifies strategies that may be used to reduce emissions from the Port and the 600 bayfront businesses to which the Port is a landlord. Some such strategies include:

• Making new and existing buildings more efficient
• Generating renewable energy along the bayfront
• Increasing use of clean vehicles, vessels and machinery

Next steps for the Port's climate plan will be identifying which specific emissions reductions strategies the Port will prioritize for implementing in 2014. Meanwhile, we'll continue urging the Port to take meaningful actions to ensure community health is at the forefront of Port decisions and the necessary actions are taken to achieve climate stability in San Diego. 

We've worked diligently over the past three years to ensure that the Port, landlord for many of the largest polluters in the region, secures adoption of a plan, and we applaud the Board of Port Commissioners for unanimously supporting it. Now, we can't wait to see this vision for San Diego's sustainable future put into action.

The approach of the new year has us reflecting on the year we are about to leave. In 2013, we accomplished goals many years in the making, and we couldn't have done it without our staff, community leaders, volunteers, board members, sponsors and ally organizations.

Our greatest accomplishments include: 

• San Diego City Council approved the first update to the Barrio Logan Community Plan in over 30 years, developed over the past five years and over 50 community meetings.
• The City Council in National City approved the removal of two polluting businesses within 1,000 feet of Kimball Elementary School in Old Town, National City.
• We defeated two polluting power plants (Pio Pico, proposed for Otay Mesa, and Quail Brush, proposed next to Mission Trails.)
• We took action to restore and protect Arroyo Alamar in Tijuana. We stopped progress paving over the river and currently participate in developing a sustainable plan.
• The San Diego Unified Port District adopted a Climate Action Plan, charting a course of action to lower the Port's greenhouse gas emissions for the next two decades.
• We launched our new Membership Program. For as little as two dollars a month you can join other members empowering EHC to make a difference in our communities.
• We empowered community members to advocate for the causes effecting their neighborhoods and vote for leaders who will do the same.
• We earned exceptional media coverage of our work and our leaders.

With the tireless hard work and support of everyone involved with EHC, we celebrate these incredible victories for our communities. When we look at 2014, we see ourselves already on the path to success. Thank you for everything you have done to bring these achievements to fruition and for never giving up on our vision of social and environmental justice.

Happy Holidays, friends. Talk to you next year.

- EHC

The only thing better than happy holidays are happy, healthy holidays. Follow these simple steps and head into a toxic-free 2014. 

• Gift a bucket with non-toxic, multi-purpose cleaning products so your friends can keep their homes clean without using harmful chemicals.
• Gift toys that do not have lead-based paint - check the label to find out!
• Use a space heater to heat your home instead of your stove.
• Make an appointment with the local utility company to check you gas heater or gas appliances - it's a free service.
• Invest in a carbon monoxide detector and install it in your home.
• Check and/or change batteries on your smoke detector.
• If you are going to use a chimney and burn wood, make sure you take the proper precautions.
• Do not leave candles unattended.
• Develop and discuss a fire evacuation plan with all family members.
• Turn your holiday lights off each night before bed.

Safe seasons greetings, everyone!

• Corporate industry said the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update would threaten 46,000 jobs - According to a City report, it brings close to 5,000 new jobs to the community, a 47 percent increase.
• Corporate industry the Navy would leave San Diego - The Navy publicly announced they are neutral to the issue entirely.
• Corporate industry said apartment complexes would be built over the shipyards - zero residential construction is allowed with this plan
  
• Corporate industry says it would run out all maritime businesses - All existing businesses are allowed to stay and can even expand up to twenty percent.
• Corporate industry doesn't like the community plan update - They were involved in every step of the planning process.

Why are corporate industries telling San Diego lies? 

We do know the people fighting the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update are NOT the people who live in, or even near, Barrio Logan. These peoples' homes are far removed from any industries. They live in neighborhoods with proper zoning and health standards, as every neighborhood should have, but doesn't.

These people live toxic-free lives (see first image). The people of Barrio Logan do not (see second image).

This is why we need to support the Barrio Logan Community Plan Update and put it on the June ballot.

Please join us at City Council on Tuesday, December 17 at 2 p.m. (202 C St, 12th floor) to demand a democratic process and every persons right to live in a healthy community. We'll see you there.

Power plants make our neighborhoods sick. Simple as that. They emit dangerous toxic pollution into our air making it hard for us to breathe, and making our families, our communities and our planet sick. 

SIGN THIS PETITION TO TELL CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY REGULATORS WE DON'T WANT PIO PICO.

SIGN THIS LETTER TO ASK SOUTH BAY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST DIRTY AIR IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

Now, a new power plant is being proposed in San Diego by SDG&E. If approved, the new plant, titled Pio Pico, will operate in Otay Mesa -- a 2/3 Latino area already burdened with toxic waste and ranked in the top 20 percent of most polluted zip codes in the state. The location is only 1.3 miles from Tijuana - home to one million people.

The chemicals produced from Pio Pico, known as "particulate matter" are directly linked to respiratory illnesses, such as asthma. Over time, residents may experience school absences, lost work days, hospital admissions, asthma diagnoses and in some severe cases, even death.

The monetary harm will also be substantial, as Pio Pico will cost SDG&E customers $1.6 billion. And that is a fact.

Irreversable damage will be done to our communities. The amount of poisonous air from Pio Pico is equal to the annual emissions of 129,584 gasoline-powered cars or nearly 70 million gallons of gasoline. San Diegans will face costly bills, asthma hospitalizations and increased environmental impacts of climate change such as forest fires, sea level rise, drought and heat waves. (Read more about the causes and effects of climate change here.)

And once it's built, it's not coming down for a long, long time -- if at all. Pio Pico's contract is 25 years, meaning it will continue to physically harm and pollute the already dumped on neighboring communities for a quarter of a decade.

Is this how you see your future? 

If not, sign this petition to oppose Pio Pico and make your voice heard for healthy neighborhoods and breathable air now and for generations to come and read more about Pio Pico and your community. There is a better way.