Tyrone Jue was appointed Director of the San Francisco Environment Department (SF Environment) by Mayor London Breed in 2023, after serving as the Department’s Acting Director for more than a year.
As director, Tyrone leads the City’s efforts to advance climate action, environmental justice, and sustainability policies. He oversees a team of nearly 100 people who work on key issues such as renewable energy, clean air, clean water, zero waste, green transportation, and urban forestry. He is responsible for implementing the City’s ambitious 2021 Climate Action Plan, which aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and enhance the City’s resilience, public health, economic recovery, and racial and social equity.
Tyrone is the first Chinese American and person of color to lead SF Environment in its 27 year history. He continues to serve as the Mayor’s appointee on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, a position he has held since 2016.
Under Tyrone’s leadership, San Francisco has achieved major climate milestones, such as:
- Passing new comprehensive regional air quality rules and regulations to reduce the Bay Area pollution from fossil fuels, such as banning the sale of nitrogen oxides, or NOx-emitting residential and commercial natural gas furnaces and water heaters and requiring refineries to install improved pollution control technologies.
- Pioneering legislation requiring large commercial buildings to procure 100% renewable electricity, a first-in-the-nation initiative. This will save 156,000 CO2e per year, equivalent to avoiding the use of 23,700 homes for one year or taking 33,800 passenger vehicles off the road for one year.
- Leading efforts to eliminate natural gas usage in new buildings and existing municipal facilities, expediting electrification. This will prevent the release of 26,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
- Enacting electric vehicle policies mandating the installation of EV charging infrastructure in new buildings and commercial parking lots. This will support the city’s goal of having 100% of passenger vehicles be zero-emission by 2040.
Prior to joining SF Environment, Tyrone held various positions in the past five San Francisco mayoral administrations, working on environmental and public health issues. He also has extensive experience in the water and energy utility space, working at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tyrone led teams of health and communications professionals responsible for developing and disseminating health guidance contributing to San Francisco having the lowest death rate of any major city in the country.
Tyrone grew up in San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood as the son of immigrants. He witnessed firsthand the environmental challenges faced by underserved communities, which fueled his commitment to a career in public service and sustainability. He holds degrees from the University of California, Davis in Psychology and Cell Biology.
Today, Tyrone still lives in San Francisco.