Ryan Schleeter 
Temperature records continue to fall in California. January to June marked the hottest first half of the year in state history, followed by the hottest August on record. From one extreme to another, Southern California is now reeling from Tropical Storm Rachel, which flooded communities from San Diego to Los Angeles and left more than … Read more
Californians just won a major step toward cheaper, cleaner, more reliable electricity. This week, Governor Newsom signed the Clean Local Power Act, SB 913 (Becker), into law. The Climate Center is proud to have co-sponsored this bill. This is what climate action at speed and scale looks like. It didn’t happen by accident. It took … Read more
Science and history guide my policy analysis. But like most people, my strongest motivation to work on climate comes from seeing impacts on the people and places I love most, such as the ocean. Growing up in Southern California, I spent every moment I could in or on the water. The more time I spent … Read more
SACRAMENTO, September 30, 2026 — Today, Governor Newsom signed SB 913, the Clean Local Power Act, into law. Authored by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), this bill ensures that the millions of California homes and businesses that already have smart technologies can help make electricity more affordable for everyone. The Climate Center CEO Kat Lockwood … Read more
The 2026 California legislative session came to a close on August 31, and the legislation passed by our representatives is now awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature. As a reminder, The Climate Center crafts, sponsors, and supports bold, ambitious climate legislation in three areas: phasing out polluting fuels, building community energy resilience, and drawing carbon out of … Read more
California has a wildfire problem. We also have an accountability problem. Chances are you’ve seen the ads by “Wildfire Victims First” on your television recently. Despite its name, this utility-funded political front group is part of a campaign to overhaul the state’s wildfire liability system, which is also a priority for Governor Newsom. The reality is that … Read more
On August 12, 2026, the California Senate Budget Subcommittee 2 held a hearing on potential reforms to the state’s Cap and Invest program. As currently proposed, the changes could result in $2 billion losses for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) each year, which funds investments in low-carbon transportation, clean air and water, sustainable agriculture, … Read more
I’m Kat, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself as the new Chief Executive Officer of The Climate Center! As I settle into my new role, I want to tell you about myself and why I’m excited to lead this organization. I’ve admired The Climate Center’s work for some time now because I see an organization … Read more
Last year, Cap and Invest (formerly known as Cap and Trade) was one of the hottest topics in California politics. After intense negotiations, the program was reformed and reauthorized through 2045. But that’s not where this story ends. Cap and Invest, California’s signature climate program that launched in 2013, is a market-based system designed to … Read more
California’s status as a top oil-producing state has long been at odds with our reputation for environmental leadership. As the consequences of burning fossil fuels have become clear and clean energy becomes more economically competitive, oil production has declined since the 1980s. But the geographic divide is stark and the industry isn’t going down without … Read more
