I had the chance to visit Altadena to witness the aftermath of the recent fires. It was eye-opening. As we drove through block after block of destruction—homes reduced to nothing but chimneys, burnt washing machines, and rusted cars—I was amazed at the sheer scale of it all. Every so often, we’d pass an untouched home, seemingly spared with no damage at all, and it struck me just how random it all seemed. Even on the outer edges of affected neighborhoods, where just one home on a block might’ve burned, that randomness unnerved me.
The Angeles Chapter and the Pasadena 100 campaign invited Ben Jealous, the Sierra Club’s Executive Director, to visit and tour the destruction. We wanted to send a clear message: Yes, there’s a lot of rebuilding to do, and it's crucial that we focus on this disaster in the immediate term, but it’s also equally important to talk about climate action, especially now. The fires just add so much urgency to our call for moving urgently and completely away from fossil fuels.
Eaton Canyon. Photo by Bo Hakala
During the tour, we had the chance to look down on entirely burned Eaton Canyon, a place where John Monsen, our Forest Committee member, and countless other chapter leaders have led thousands of hikes over the past 100+ years. The Tongva people have cared for these hills and canyons long before us. Sadly, the fires aren't new. The Eaton Canyon Nature Center, which we've all worked so hard to protect, burned down before—and it took five years to rebuild. But nothing like this has impacted the neighborhood to this degree.
Jenny Binstock, the Sierra Club staffer who supports all the California chapters, was there too. She’s been in the fight against climate change for 20 years, and I’ve had the privilege of working alongside her for the past 10. But standing there on the front lines—two weeks after the fires had ravaged the area—still felt daunting. The scale of the destruction, the fragility of our progress, and the weight of what still needs to be done—it all hit me harder than ever before.
It’s been two years since Pasadena passed its Climate Emergency Resolution, and we gathered at the First AME Church with over 50 people to reflect on the progress we've made—and the work that lies ahead. Back in 2023, the city set the ambitious goal of achieving 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030, and while Pasadena has made strides toward this goal, there’s still much more to do.
As Cynthia Cannady, Chairperson of the Pasadena 100 Coalition, said at the press conference, “Our work to curb climate change starts right here in Pasadena. We are proud that the City set the 100% goal in 2023; now we have to achieve it.”
advocating for urgent climate action.
Photo by Bo Hakala
But it’s more than just a goal. It’s a commitment. And as Ben Jealous reminded us, “Critical moments require bold leadership.” With the mounting urgency of the climate crisis and the recent fires serving as a reminder of what’s at stake, now is the time for Pasadena to deliver on its promise of clean energy for all.
We’re all in this fight together, and while it can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, it’s clear that the work we do today has never been more important. I’m hopeful that Pasadena—and other cities across California—will rise to the challenge and show the bold leadership to get to 100% clean electricity that’s so desperately needed.
Here are a few news articles about the event:
Pasadena Now - Guest Essay: Sierra Club’s Ben Jealous Urges Community Involvement in Environmental Recovery
Colorado Boulevard - Ben Jealous Visits Pasadena/Altadena in the Wake of the Eaton Fire
Pasadena-Star News - In wake of Eaton fire, leaders call on Pasadena to redouble efforts on climate goals
