Our Bureau
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined the Los Angeles Business Council for its Sustainability Summit VIP Reception and Awards. The awards were held at City Hall, recognizing changemakers in Los Angeles whose work in policy and entrepreneurship is imperative to advancing the region toward its climate goals in 2030 and beyond.
At a special awards reception, LA Councilmember Blumenfield received the Environmental Leadership Award for his long advocacy for environmental issues; LA Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky and LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella received the Sustainability Team Leadership Award for their role in passing and implementing Measure W, which has allocated over $670 million since 2018 to capture, treat, and recycle stormwater; and GAF Energy received the Innovation Award for pioneering technology that integrates solar panels into roofing materials.
The reception was held following the Los Angeles Business Council’s 17th Annual Sustainability Summit, which gathered hundreds of governments, business and environmental leaders at the University of Southern California and featured a special virtual address from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The summit featured panels discussing L.A.’s 2035 100% clean energy goals, the region’s push towards decarbonizing its transportation sector, navigating California’s increasingly unpredictable water supply, and initial findings of an LABC Institute-commissioned study by METRANS – a joint partnership of USC and Cal State Long Beach – which analyzes the prospects, pathways, and challenges presented by California’s Advanced Clean Fleets Rule that sets targets for zero-emission truck fleets in California.
The LABC Sustainability Summit and VIP Awards Reception are high-level convenings of leaders in one of the most environmentally forward-thinking cities in the world. The Los Angeles Business Council has been a leading proponent of embracing the green economy, with a strong belief that environmental stewardship and economic growth go hand-in-hand.
Leading Indian American Rajendra Vora in attendance congratulated Mayor Karen Bass, LABC President Mary Leslie, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath for their leadership, and all the winners’ LA Council members Katy Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield, and Mark Pastrella.
