Ayn Craciun is being presented with a Political Leadership Award for her decade of work advocating on environmental issues in Orange County, especially in the City of Irvine. She is the Orange County Policy Director for the Climate Action Campaign.
A proven community and climate policy leader, she established the OC Climate Coalition, a community of 40+ environmental, faith, business and community groups to collaborate on local, state and federal climate policy. She also helped build a coalition of support to create the Orange County Power Authority, OC’s first Community Choice Energy program. She also led a successful campaign to stop a dangerous methane gas/hydrogen blending project at UC Irvine and a campaign to win adoption of a gas-free buildings ordinance for the city of Irvine. In 2023, Ayn co-authored the first Climate Action Plan report card for Orange County cities and was named one of the most influential people in Orange County by the OC Register. In 2024, Ayn was selected by the California Air Resources Board to provide expert testimony on electrification of affordable housing after winning a grant from the CPUC’s Clean TECH California program to cultivate understanding of and address those issues.
Ayn has chaired the City of Irvine Sustainability Commission and ran for Irvine City Council in 2024.
Join us at the 2025 Political Leadership Awards and celebrate (insert name of honoree) and other environmental champions who are standing up for democracy and a sustainable future for our planet. Get your tickets here.
