2024 Climate Smart Champion Awards

Congratulations to the 2024 Climate Smart Champions! These individuals and organizations are recognized for their outstanding efforts that aligned with the goals of Climate Smart San José and contributed to a more sustainable city in 2023. Category descriptions can be viewed at this link.

The 2024 champions selected this year are:

Climate Champion of the Year

Daphne Zhu

Daphne Zhu, a high school junior at Lynbrook High School in West San José, has been deeply involved in climate activism and served as a co-lead of the San Jose team of Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action (SVYCA). She organized Lynbrook High School's inaugural Earth Day Festival and serves as an officer of the environmental club, actively working to improve sustainability across the Fremont Union High School District. As a District 5 Representative and Vice Chair of the Santa Clara Valley Water District Youth Commission, she leads creek cleanup events and engages in community volunteer work, including habitat restoration and environmental education initiatives.

Climate Smart Equity Champion

Breathe California

Breathe California focuses on lung health and combating lung disease. Through initiatives like the Silicon Valley Clean Cities Coalition, Breathe California promotes advanced technology vehicles and alternative fuels, particularly in communities of color with lower EV adoption rates, aiming to improve air quality and health outcomes through targeted EV education and outreach efforts. Collaborating with organizations like San Jose Clean Energy and Pacific Gas and Electric, Breathe California delivers educational campaigns and supports EV adoption, contributing to significant reductions in petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Champion

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity - Climate Careers

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity's Climate Careers engages youth from low-income households across ten counties in the Bay Area and Central Valley, providing them with summer employment and ongoing professional development in residential energy and water efficiency services. Specifically hiring 20 San Jose youth in the past two years, the program focuses on racial equity and empowerment, aiming to elevate the skills and voices of historically marginalized BIPOC youth while conducting Green House Calls for residents in pollution-burdened neighborhoods, resulting in significant energy and water savings.

Mobility Champion

Good Karma Bikes

Good Karma Bikes rescues bicycles from landfills, refurbishes them, and grants them to individuals in need, contributing to transportation equity and environmental sustainability. Through bike repair and education programs, the organization empowers underserved communities, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by promoting cycling, and fosters a culture of inclusion and mentorship, ultimately enhancing quality of life for recipients and promoting healthier, more sustainable communities. 

Water Conservation Champion

Girl Scout Troop 62735

Girl Scout Troop 62735 embarked on a Bronze award and Adopt-a-Park project in collaboration with the City of San José to revitalize an abandoned community garden. They gathered input for the garden's transformation, focusing on drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly native plants and repairing benches for community enjoyment. By engaging in environmentally sustainable practices like sheet mulching and promoting biodiversity, Girl Scout Troop 62735 demonstrates how youth-led initiatives can beautify public spaces and foster climate-resilient environments, benefiting diverse communities and enhancing their collective understanding of gardening and conservation.

We hosted a celebration on April 16, 2024 to recognize these individuals for the great work they have done. Champions received a commendation from San José City Council.

If you have questions about the Climate Champion Awards, please email ClimateSmart@sanjoseca.gov. 

Previous Awards

View past Climate Smart Champions here.