Location

Sunnyvale | Cupertino

Team Mentors

Kristel Wickham

Peri Plantenberg

Student Leaders

Cynthia Li

Sathvika Siva

 
 
 

Current Initiatives

  1. Organizing a Sunnyvale Climate Candidate Forum for November 3rd 2026 council re-elections for districts 1, 3, & 5. To give community members and voters insight on candidate stances on environmental and climate policies.

  2. Creating a Dark Sky Ordinance to pass in Sunnyvale to prevent light pollution and protect local wildlife.

  3. Printing and distributing 300 more copies of our original Zine (small magazine), The Boy and the ORANGE at the Sunnyvale Public Library.

  4. Planning a Teen Clothing Swap at the 2027 Sunnyvale Earth Day Festival with the Sunnyvale Environmental Services Department (ESD).

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2025 Impact

  • Passed Option 1 for buffered bike lanes on Hollenbeck, by the Sunnyvale City Council.

  • Partnered with the Sunnyvale Public Library to create an original Zine (small magazine), The Boy and the ORANGE and distributed 200+ copies to kids and community members.

  • Advocated for a year to establish a Youth Transit Pass pilot program at Fremont High School in collaboration with the FUHSD and the VTA.

  • Advocated and passed the FUHSD Climate Action Resolution at the District Board Meeting, securing an agreement to acknowledge and act on climate issues.

  • Advocated and passed the FUHSD Environmental Education Policy at the District Board Meeting, establishing an environmental curriculum for all class subjects in the district and an annual Eco-anxiety survey for students.

  • Worked with the Sunnyvale Environmental Services Department (ESD) to plan a Teen Clothing Swap at the Sunnyvale Earth Day Festival. (ongoing because Sunnyvale Earth Day was canceled due to rain, but we are still planning a clothing swap/thrift store)

  • Organized a Sunnyvale Contingent for Make Polluters Pay on 3/28/2026 (No Kings Day) and collected over 80+ signatures.

2024 Impact

Councilmember Meeting:

  • Councilmembers Mehlinger & Chang

Climate Candidate Forum:

  • Mayoral candidates, District 4 & 6

Teams:

  • Outreach & Education

  • Advocacy

Sunnyvale:

  • Artificial turf (FUHSD & City)

  • Gameplan 2028

  • SV Hopper Implementation

Santa Clara County:

  • Artificial Turf

Other:

NOx, BAAQMD

Current initiatives & Next steps

Green Businesses:

  • Identified businesses

  • Planning stages

Social Media:

  • Planning stages

  • Editing stages

Safe Routes to School:

  • Presentation by adult advocate

  • Tasman Drive

past accomplishments

  • Organized successful Nonpartisan City Council Candidate Forum in October 2020 with 7 city council candidates, approximately 600 views through Facebook Live and live participants.

  • The Sustainability Commission’s reach code recommendation to staff and the city council included the Sunnyvale team's recommendations, including the elimination of blanket exemptions and increased EV-readiness for both residential and nonresidential buildings.

  • Successful reach code advocacy: the finalized reach codes passed with an EV infrastructure requirement significantly stronger than when the reach codes were first drafted, using some of the team’s recommendations.

  • Active Transportation Plan (ATP) was approved including a number of Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) recommendations, which SYCAT advocated for.

  • Recognition from the City of Sunnyvale: Sunnyvale team co-lead, Peri Plantenberg received 2020 Sunnyvale High School Student of the Year. Sunnyvale team advisor Kristel Wickham received Environmental Achievement.

 
 
 

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