Calling all climate-smart development enthusiasts: apply to join Greenbelt Alliance’s Climate SMART Development Endorsement Program (DEP) Committee. The DEP Committee meets monthly to review, discuss, and select proposed development projects for endorsement that meet our SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented—criteria and vision. These development projects advance the right kind of development in the right places across the Bay Area. (see the projects we have endorsed).
Applications are now open until March 17, 2026. Fill the form below to apply:
We are looking for additional members from across the Bay Area who share our climate SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented—vision, and professionals with expertise in housing equity, sustainability, finance, and environmental design. We would like this committee to accurately reflect a diversity of ages, professions, backgrounds, and genders, as well as employment status, including those who are in school, employed, or retired.
The meetings are currently held via Zoom every 3rd Wednesday of the month, for 1 hour, with occasional ad hoc meetings. The new committee members would attend their first meeting in April 2026.
The goals of the Climate SMART Development Endorsement Program are:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate impacts.
- Promote equity, foster community resilience, and protect the most vulnerable.
- Prioritize natural and green infrastructure solutions to enhance and protect natural resources and urban environments.
- Preserve and restore ecological systems that enhance natural system functions, services, and quality and that reduce risk.
Why Join?
By promoting climate-smart development, we can create thriving, resilient neighborhoods with ready access to transit and housing for everyone. We can continue to protect the Bay Area’s greenbelts from sprawl development, preserving our open spaces for generations to come. As a trusted advocate of both open spaces and climate-smart communities, Greenbelt Alliance is in a unique position to help infill development projects move forward.
The Development Endorsement Program and Committee provides an essential environmental perspective on building housing within existing communities in the Bay Area. We pursue the SMART goals to achieve our mission of ensuring that the Bay Area’s lands and communities are resilient to a changing climate.
If you have any questions about this committee, please contact Andrew Ha at aha@greenbelt.org.
What We Are Looking For?
Title: Climate SMART Development Endorsement Committee Member
Deadline to apply: March 17, 2026
Responsibilities: All members of the Development Endorsement Committee are required to fulfill the following duties:
- Attend the 8-12 Development Endorsement Committee meetings each year.
- Review information about each development prior to the committee meeting.
- Come prepared with a high-level understanding of project(s) being reviewed and any initial questions
- Become familiar with Climate SMART Development Endorsement Guidelines and evaluate each project based on these criteria.
Header image: Karl Nielsen/Greenbelt Alliance
