“Thirty years ago, San Franciscans created the San Francisco Environment Department to coordinate the city’s efforts and turn environmental goals into tangible results for our neighborhoods. With our achievements as our guide, we’re looking ahead to scale what has worked, and do it equitably, transparently, and fast enough to matter.” – Tyrone Jue, Environment Department Director
This year, the San Francisco Environment Department (SFE) is celebrating 30 years of working to deliver a healthier, greener, cleaner, and more prosperous city for all. The journey began in 1995 with a voter-led ballot initiative designed to create a more efficient government that elevated environmental concerns. The result was the formation of SF Environment, working to ensure clean air, healthy communities, and a safe, sustainable, and equitable future for all San Franciscans.
The voters’ mandate launched three decades of bold climate action, initiatives that support citywide efforts to reverse decades of compounding environmental injustices, and programs that help ensure all San Franciscans can reduce pollution in their homes and workplaces through electrification. Since inception, SFE has consistently risen to meet the environmental challenges unique to our City. Together with residents and other city departments, SFE’s efforts have not only reduced pollution, but they have also improved health, made the built environment more resilient, and lowered utility costs for both residents and businesses.
Please join us in celebrating three decades of success that has changed lives for the better and transformed San Francisco into a global climate leader.
1995 – 2005: The people's mandate for environmental action
Voters develop and pass a charter reform ballot measure creating the Commission on the Environment and the Department of Environment (1995). As one of the first municipal bodies in the nation dedicated to planning for long-term environmental sustainability, the new Department would consolidate functions previously “scattered throughout the bureaucracy” to “reduce confusion and elevate environmental concerns.” During this decade:
- The "Fantastic 3-bin" material separation system is introduced, keeping streets clean and making San Francisco the world’s model Zero Waste city (1999).
- San Francisco receives an unprecedented $13 million (1998) to distribute for energy-related pollution mitigation projects serving Bayview Hunters Point and Potrero Hill, and launches one of the first municipal Environmental Justice programs in the nation (2000).
- San Francisco releases its first Climate Action Plan (2004).
The Hunters Point Power Plant seen from the shore of India Basin. (Chris Carlsson/FoundSF via Creative Commons)
2006 – 2015: Embedding environmental action into the culture of the City
SFE makes the concept “climate action is good government” a reality with a decade full of firsts. From being the first in the nation to ban plastic bags and pass a Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance, to installing the city’s first EV chargers, climate action catapults the city onto the global stage and becomes a part of what it means to be San Franciscan. During this decade:
- In partnership with the community, SFE supports the successful closure of the Hunters Point (2006) and Potrero Power Plants (2010).
- SFE mobilizes on behalf of residents and businesses during the Great Recession (2008), rapidly deploying millions in federal Recovery Act assistance to accelerate residential energy efficiency and develop a green workforce.
- SF becomes the first city in the US to launch an industry-sponsored safe medicine disposal program (2015) and mandate composting and recycling (2009), leading to 75 percent diversion a year ahead of schedule.
2016 – 2025: Strengthening our communities and building a green economy
SFE expands BayREN, one of the first regional energy networks, with programs that create green jobs and save residents and small businesses on utility costs. SFE also doubles-down on making San Francisco’s buildings some of the greenest in the nation—from its early LEED leadership to its 100% Renewable Electricity Ordinance—helping the city hit its first emissions reduction milestone. During this decade:
- San Francisco is first to ban the sale of flame-retardants in furniture and children’s products (2017), protecting the health of families and first responders.
- San Francisco adopts one of the highest “EV Ready” building standards in the state (2017), and wins gold in the state’s “ZEV Permitting Olympics” (2021).
- SFE passes the nation’s most comprehensive All-Electric New Construction Ordinance (2020), protecting residents from pollution.
Today, tomorrow, and beyond: building the future with lessons from the past
SFE’s programs have always been developed collaboratively to ensure they effectively meet the needs of a dynamic growing city—from training local workers in new electrification technologies, to recovering edible food and distributing it to families across the city.
The results of these partnerships are everywhere: EV charging where you shop and work, electrification programs that improve indoor air quality and build resilience, and lush, biodiverse welcoming spaces for all.
For the past 30 years, climate action has been a defining characteristic of San Francisco’s success. With these achievements as our guide, we invite you to join us in setting our sights on what’s possible in the next 30.
Read a special Earth Month letter from SFE Director Tyrone Jue.
