Nature Positive Cities Efforts to Advance the Transition San Francisco 2025

2 Assessment of enabling environmentInternational collaboration Since 2005, the city has been a part of the C40 network, a global community of mayors leading united action on climate challenges in cities. Since joining the network, San Francisco has developed a range of accelerators including: –T owards Zero Waste Accelerator: To embrace the circular economy in cities and limit the amount of waste heading to landfills and incinerators –Urban Natur e Accelerator: Cultivating urban nature landscapes in cities to improve physical and mental health of citizens, and provide a natural buffer against environmental catastrophe –Clean Construction Accelerator : Limiting the carbon footprint of the construction sector and encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices and material use The city is also part of a range of networks that aim to promote certain agendas among cities (including biodiversity, active transport, clean energy use and waste minimization). Challenges identified –A large number of initiatives championing natur e causes can result in competition and disjointed activities among them. –Biodiversity is often underr epresented in environmental education campaigns. –Public awar eness of the significant nature conservation efforts by the city and local NGOs is lacking. Impr ovement areas –Identify and cultivate str ong relationships with select private- sector partners to strengthen cross-sector collaboration on nature initiatives in the city. –Intr oduce community gardens and biodiverse landscapes in public housing facilities and underserved parts of the city to provide accessible natural spaces. –Develop a biodiversity curriculum unit to embed into schooling initiatives at appropriate primary and secondary levels. –Prioritize raising awar eness of ecological conservation and nature restoration work, so that more of the public can be engaged. 29 Nature Positive: Cities’ Efforts to Advance the Transition