| Blog Post

Testimony: Strengthening Cap and Invest to reduce more climate pollution

On May 6, 2026, the California Senate Joint Budget Committees and the Environmental Quality Committee held an informational hearing on the state’s Cap and Invest program. California’s Cap and Invest program, formerly called Cap and Trade, is a market-based system intended to reduce climate pollution and generate funds to invest in climate solutions. But as … Read more

| Blog Post

Support The Climate Center’s team in this year’s California Green Fondo Climate Ride

Photo via Laurie-Ann Barbour.

The Climate Center is a beneficiary of Climate Ride, a nonprofit that organizes active events to raise money for the planet. This year, we are fundraising for our work by participating in the Green Fondo Northern California cycling event. Read our stories about why we ride! Laurie-Ann, Administrative Manager: Having just celebrated my twelfth anniversary … Read more

| Blog Post

Opening remarks from the 2026 California Climate Policy Summit

The 2026 California Climate Policy Summit. Photo by Lara Aburamadan / Survival Media Agency.

On April 13, 2026, more than 400 elected officials, climate activists, business leaders, environmental justice advocates, scientists, and policy experts gathered for the fifth annual California Climate Policy Summit. Thank you to all of you who joined us and supported this event! Read The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen’s opening remarks below: Welcome everyone, and … Read more

| Press Release

New report reveals California funneled $28 billion to corporate polluters via carbon trading programs

Webinar on February 19 will unpack findings and explore policy solutions

SACRAMENTO — California’s carbon trading programs funneled $27.8 billion to oil companies and biofuel suppliers from 2013 to 2024, according to a new report from The Climate Center released today. The report, Clearing the Zero-Emission Path: A Review of Financial Transfers to Polluting Fuels via California Carbon Trading Programs, finds the combined value of free … Read more

| Report

Clearing the Zero-Emission Path

A review of financial transfers to polluting fuels via California carbon trading programs

This report reveals how California’s carbon trading programs funneled $27.8 billion to oil companies and biofuel suppliers from 2013 to 2024.  Both the Cap and Trade program and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard have the stated purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping California meet its statutory climate goals. In reality, our analysis shows … Read more

| Report

Carbon Dioxide Removal in California

A practical guide for policymakers and the public

Forest. Photo via Canva.

California is entering a pivotal moment in its fight against the climate crisis, one that demands not only accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but also confronting carbon pollution left behind since the Industrial Revolution. These long-lived legacy emissions will continue to impact the climate, even when society has successfully decarbonized across sectors. The … Read more

| Press Release

Governor Newsom vetoes bill to expand virtual power plants – The Climate Center response

SACRAMENTO, October 6, 2025 — Late on Friday, October 3, 2025, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 740 (Harabedian), co-sponsored by The Climate Center, Advanced Energy United, and Environment California.  The bill would have accelerated the use of virtual power plants (VPPs), which are networks of clean, distributed energy resources like smart thermostats, home batteries, rooftop solar, … Read more