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Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee Application
Personal Information
First Name
Akshay
Middle Name
Kumar
Last Name
Lal
Street Address Apt, Suite #
City
Foster City
State
CA
Zip
94404
Email Cell Phone Home Phone
How long have you lived in Foster City?
15 years (my entire life)
Employment
What is your Occupation/Present Position?
Sophmore at San Mateo High School
Employer's Name
N/A - Student
Employer's Address
N/A
Apt, Suite #
City
N/A
State
N/A
Zip
N/A
Length of Employment
N/A
Self Employment
Name and Description of Business
Address Apt, Suite #
E-Filed
01/01/2026
21:51:04
Filing ID:
12753
2/5
City State Zip
Phone Length of Ownership
Service
Have you ever served on a public board, committee, or commission? Yes
If yes, please explain
I was accepted to and am serving on this years cohort of San Mateo County Youth Climate Ambassadors.
Do you have any relatives employed in the city or serving in any official capacity? No
If yes, please give name(s) and relationship
Community Organizations or Activities
Community Organizations or Activities
Youth Climate
Ambassadors
Leadership Program
Learn about climate
change and
enviormental justice,
planning and will
initiate impact project
Member of cohort. September 23, 2025 -
Present
Counselor in Training
for Foster City
Summer Camps
Led campers in
games and activities,
helped plan events.
Counselor in Training
(CIT)
Summer (two weeks)
of 2024 and 2025
Freshman Student
Council at San Mateo
High School
Responsible for
managing budget of
San Mateo High
school. Organized
fund raisers and other
activitie
Treasurer Aug 2024-May 2025
Science and
Innovation Club
Hold weekly club
meetings to discuss
science and it's
impact on society and
climate
President Aug 2025-May 2026
3/5
References
Fannie Hsieh
Drive Redwood City,
CA 94065
Sustainability Analyst,
San Mateo County
Veronica Gasco
Street, San Mateo, CA
San Mateo High
School Sophomore
Class Counselor
Asif Rahman
San Mateo, CA
Chemistry Teacher/
Club Advisor
Objectives
Please state reasons and objectives for desiring to become a member of this committee/commission
4/5
When I was a Freshman, I attended the Youth Climate Ambassador Summit, where I was inspired by discussions and activities centered on building stronger communities through environmental action. That led me to applying to the Youth Climate Ambassador Leadership (YCA) Program as a sophomore so that I could use that opportunity to turn my sustainability ideas into action, learn from like-minded peers, collaborate in teams, and further develop my leadership skills. I was accepted into the program and that has led to a deepening of my passion for learning and developing sustainable systems that can create impact in my community.
My passion for sustainability comes from seeing how both personal choices and broader climate changes affect daily life. In middle school, I researched food insecurity and was surprised by the fact that while 40% of U.S. food is wasted, over 10% of households are food insecure. That experience pushed me to change my habits and reduce waste.
Later, I saw the same theme of environmental impact play out on a larger scale when Foster City invested heavily in levee construction to combat rising water levels.
Researching the issue made me realize how climate change and global warming drives such costs, as those resources could have gone to other community priorities had we not faced the risk.
So far in YCA, I have learned about the key contributors to climate change such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy, emissions from vehicles for transportation, and methane from livestock like cows. We have also learned about important moments in environmental justice like Earth Day in 1970, where around 10 percent of Americans participated in the largest demonstration in United States history to protest against environmental destruction. As part of YCA I have also researched solutions to climate change issues that individuals can do in their own lives, such as using electricity based heat pumps instead of fossil fuel based heating systems and keeping gardens with plants that don’t need as much water. I am also looking forward to working with a team on a capstone project centered on sustainability and environment issues.
I would like to use what I have learned thus far in YCA as well as continue to develop and grow my personal goals and passion to promote sustainability in Foster City. Born and raised in Foster City, I have a deep love and admiration for the city and would like to contribute to making this city more sustainable, eco friendly and greener. This experience would also be valuable for me to build leadership and project management skills. I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve in the Citizens Sustainability Advisory Committee.
Have you attended a meeting of the Committee/Commission you are applying to? I plan to attend a meeting before the interview
If Yes, enter the date of the meeting you attended.
Verification
5/5
If appointed, I agree to take the City mandated 2-hour ethics training prior to the first committee meeting date.
X Yes, I Agree
If appointed, I acknowledge the committee’s attendance policy that missing 3 consecutive regular committee meetings or missing 5 regular or special meetings in a 12-month period will constitute an automatic resignation (FCMC 2.36.200).
X Yes, I Agree
Signature Signature Date
01/01/2026