Addressing climate change across an entire government structure isn’t easy. So when the Alameda County Board of Supervisors decided they wanted to reduce the county’s carbon footprint 15 percent by 2020, the Sustainability Team drafted a Climate Action Plan—a blue print if you will, for how they would reach the goal. They knew that it would take a team effort.

In fact, it would take several teams to connect with 20 county departments that are now taking steps to reduce carbon emissions. Any department can foster recycling for example, or carpooling as methods to produce less greenhouse gas. Those things work almost anywhere. But you can also imagine that what works for the Department of Public Health might not for the Department of Public Works. The County Library system might find different methods than say, the County Jail.