L.A. County’s New Climate Resilience Officer

Matthew Gonser, recently appointed as Los Angeles County’s Climate Resilience Officer, brings experience from a similar role in Honolulu and is now tasked with defining the Climate Resilience Initiative approved by the Board of Supervisors. Working within the Chief Sustainability Office, he will focus on addressing critical threats such as extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding, as outlined in the County's Climate Vulnerability Assessment. Gonser emphasizes the importance of long-term commitment and the need to reconsider past decisions to build a resilient future for a region of such local and national significance, viewing this as a leadership opportunity for Los Angeles.

To avoid a "doom and gloom" mentality about climate change, Gonser advocates for community engagement and action, stressing that resilience is about improving everyday quality of life through clean air, reliable water, and connected, affordable communities. While individual efforts like expanding transit choices and conserving resources are essential, he points out that systemic and institutional changes are needed to truly address the scale of the climate crisis, underscoring that climate resilience is a shared responsibility beyond personal choices. In his free time, he looks forward to exploring L.A. by biking, riding transit, and discovering its diverse plant and animal life.