LA Climate Tech Cities: Jan 13 - 20
Wildfire Recovery Now and Climate Action Year-round - and more!
Hi friends,
As fires continue to blaze through our region, we are holding space for the immense loss and heartbreak that so many are experiencing. Families have been displaced, neighborhoods altered, beloved trails and landscapes scarred, and wildlife left struggling in a disoriented, unfamiliar world.
Our deepest gratitude goes out to the firefighters, public workers, and first responders: heroes from near and far, including teams from Canada and Mexico, who have tirelessly put their lives on the line to protect our communities. And to everyone affected, we send our heartfelt condolences. The devastation is hard to fathom.
The scale and intensity of these fires remind us of the ways climate change intensifies the challenges we face. While it didn’t light the match, it played a critical role in setting the stage: relentless drought, powerful Santa Ana winds, and shifting weather patterns combined to fuel an unstoppable firestorm. Our city wasn’t prepared for this magnitude of destruction. This isn’t just a single event, it’s part of a pattern, with fires, floods, droughts, and landslides increasing in both frequency and severity.
Los Angeles is a city of dreamers and doers, a place where resilience runs deep. It is a place where nature and humanity coexist. Together, we must rethink the fragile balance. We can protect and heal the beautiful places we love while building a future that’s better equipped to weather what lies ahead.
Whether it’s by volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness, every effort matters- today, tomorrow, and in the months of recovery to come.
At Climate Tech Cities Los Angeles, we’re committed to bringing people together to face these challenges, understand the causes and consequences of climate change, and spark action. We’ll continue to share about all the climate and sustainability events happening in the Greater Los Angeles area, and more. Through connection, education, and solutions, we aim to build a more resilient city and inspire others to take part.
Here’s how you can help today, and in the days and weeks ahead:
Check-in on your loved ones, neighbors, businesses you care about and non-profits operating in these affected areas.
Volunteer your time to aid recovery efforts.
Offer donations of supplies or funds.
Provide meals for first responders and evacuees.
Spread the word to friends and neighbors who can lend a hand.
Key resources to support recovery and stay informed:
CA.Gov: Resources for Californians Impacted by Los Angeles Fires
Mutual Aid LA Network: Posting valuable resources and updates.
Watch Duty: An app to track fires and evacuations.
LAFD Foundation: Information on donations and evacuation updates.
With care, determination, and a united effort, we can come through this stronger together.
Share this newsletter with your community to ensure more Angelenos are connected, supported, and prepared for the challenges ahead. Together, we can rebuild, recover, and reimagine a city that thrives year-round, no matter what comes our way.
With care,
Maëlys, Niqat, Raiven & The Climate Tech Cities Team
LA Fires Resources
LA County Emergency Alerts: Sign up to receive phone, email, or text notifications in the event of further evacuations or future local emergencies through Alert LA County here.
211 LA’s Wildfire Response Information: Learn about local support and assistance programs here.
LA Volunteer Opportunities: Find ways to contribute your time and skills here.
Ways to help people who have been directly impacted: Explore opportunities to assist individuals and families impacted by the fires here.
Mutual Aid Resources: Access a detailed list of community-driven aid initiatives here. Note: refer to column B to see when the entry was last updated; entries are updated at varying frequencies by community members.
Organizations Involved in Relief Efforts
Opportunities (climate fellowships, accelerators etc.)
Upcoming and Rolling Deadlines
🏛 Earth Lawyers Fellowship 2025 (Due Jan 15)
💡 AI x Climate Accelerator (Due Feb 3)
🤝 Climatebase Fellowship (Due Feb 14)
📝 InnovateMass (Due March 17)
👉 Would you like to feature a grant opportunity, fellowship application, or incubation program in the LA Climate Tech Cities newsletter? Reach out to us with the info.
Upcoming Events
As the extent of the fires continues to change, and we are unsure how local in-person events may be impacted across the county, we have chosen to pause sharing events until next week. We hope that the fires will be more contained in the coming days and that it will be safer for folks to meet in person again soon.
Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the wildfires, to those valiantly fighting the fires and those supporting with the recovery. The Georgia cleantech innovation community is looking to help in the near and long-term.
Donald J. Trump Energy Pick a Climate Denier! - Chris White
Chris White rises, darkened skies,
A fossil fuel pawn in a green disguise.
With polished lies and a corporate tie,
He paves the path where safeguards die.
Regulation falls, the planet weeps,
Profit’s throne is where he keeps.
“Clean coal” dreams and geo plans,
A future scorched by his own hands.
Loyalists lurk, sabotage grows,
Renewable progress meets sharp blows.
Independence? A clever spin,
While Earth pays for the corporate sin.
The truth is clear, the stakes are high,
Resist the schemes, don’t let hope die.
GQ