Shelby Rust Busó has been named San Diego’s new chief sustainability officer following a yearlong nationwide search for the position, Mayor Todd Gloria announced Wednesday.
“I’m excited to welcome Shelby to our city family, where she’ll lead the implementation of our ambitious Climate Action Plan,” Gloria said. “Delivering on our goal of net-zero emissions by 2035 will require citywide mobilization of many stakeholders, and Shelby will play a critical role by coordinating efforts across city departments and with community and regional partners.”
Rust Busó will head up climate action for the Sustainability and Mobility Department. In leading the CAP update and Climate Action Implementation Plan, she will ensure that CAP actions are “programmed, resourced and implemented successfully upon adoption by City Council, which is anticipated this summer,” a city statement read.
“Ms. Rust Busó is a perfect complement to our team,” Sustainability and Mobility Department Director Alyssa Muto said. “She brings a combination of professional experience in sustainable building design, mobility and circulation, local food-system programs, and resiliency and climate mitigation practices.”
“As the CSO, she will ensure the city has a single point of contact and leader to support and build consensus among departments in the development of work plans and associated budgets necessary for citywide implementation of the CAP update,” Muto added.
She will also lead the city’s work on the long-term planning and implementation for decarbonizing buildings and neighborhoods.
Prior to joining San Diego, Rust Busó was the chief resilience officer for Miami. Before that role, she served for two years as the CSO for Atlanta, where she led the sustainability team.
She holds a juris doctorate and master’s degree in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Spanish and environmental studies from Wake Forest University.
City News Service contributed to this article.
