Ryan Schleeter

Ryan Schleeter (he/him/his) is the Communications Director for The Climate Center, working to build the movement for a Climate-Safe California. Prior to The Climate Center, Ryan led communications for Greenpeace USA’s climate campaigns and worked for the World Resources Institute’s sustainable cities program. He’s the co-author of a chapter on values-based communications approaches for mobilizing climate action in the forthcoming anthology "Framing New Worlds: Resistance Narratives From 21st Century Social Movements" and a graduate researcher at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. His writing has also appeared in National Geographic, Grist, and more. He grew up in the Bay Area and currently lives on Ohlone land in San Francisco, California. Follow Ryan on Twitter @ryschlee.
| Press Release

An alternative to keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open: Clean, decentralized energy

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

UPDATE August 24, 2022: Late last week, members of the California State Assembly circulated an alternative proposal for avoiding power outages that would avert the need for extending the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The Climate Center strongly supports the majority of this proposal and recommends state leaders prioritize investment in clean, distributed energy to address the … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Press Release

AB 2649 held in Senate, but natural carbon removal remains on Newsom’s priority list

SACRAMENTO, August 11, 2022 — Earlier today, the Natural Carbon Sequestration and Resilience Act (AB 2649, C. Garcia) failed to advance out of the California State Senate Appropriations Committee. AB 2649 aimed to set California’s first-ever statutory targets for naturally removing past climate pollution from the atmosphere through soil and vegetation on natural, urban, and … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration
| Press Release

California launches new energy program modeled on the Community Energy Resilience Act

rooftop solar

SACRAMENTO, August 11, 2022 — Today, the California Energy Commission (CEC) held a workshop to mark the creation of a new $170 million Community Energy Resilience investment program. The program is modeled after the Community Energy Resilience Act (SB 833), which was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee today following the creation of the new … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Press Release

Governor Newsom directs CARB to prioritize nature-based carbon removal in revised Scoping Plan

Gavin Newsom by Charlie Kaijo

SACRAMENTO — Late last week, Governor Gavin Newsom directed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to make major changes to its draft climate plan. In a letter sent to CARB Chair Liane Randolph on July 22, Newsom wrote “we need to up our game” and urged CARB to address six key areas in its draft … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Climate Targets
| Press Release

California’s natural carbon removal bill AB 2649 passes out of two Senate committees

SACRAMENTO, June 29, 2022 — Today, the Natural Carbon Sequestration and Resilience Act (AB 2649, C. Garcia) advanced out of the California State Senate Environmental Quality Committee by a vote of five to two. Earlier this month, the bill passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee with bipartisan support.  AB 2649 aims … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Climate Targets
| Press Release

Bill to set California’s first statutory targets for natural carbon removal passes out of Assembly: Fights drought and heat waves

SACRAMENTO — By a 52-13 vote, the Natural Carbon Sequestration and Resilience Act (AB 2649, C. Garcia) advanced out of the California State Assembly on Monday evening. AB 2649 aims to set California’s first-ever statutory targets for naturally removing past climate pollution from the atmosphere through soil and vegetation on natural, urban, and working lands. … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Climate Targets
| Press Release

Governor Newsom reveals $32 billion climate investment package — The Climate Center response

SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Newsom released his May budget revision — the “California Blueprint” — which outlines his administration’s plans for spending California’s $49 billion discretionary surplus. The plan includes $32 billion for climate initiatives over five years, including $16 billion to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, $8 billion for clean energy, $970 million … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Transportation
| Press Release

Scientists and academics respond to draft California Air Resources Board Scoping Plan

LOS ANGELES — Scientists and academics from across California today joined advocates criticizing a plan released by the California Air Resources Board for reaching carbon neutrality, saying the plan is a setback for the state and the world. The Draft Scoping Plan makes no changes to the emission reduction targets adopted in 2017, despite Governor … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Targets
| Press Release

CARB’s latest climate proposal flouts scientists’ warnings: 2045 is too late

Protect Our Home

During an April 20 workshop, staff at the California Air Resources Board (CARB) recommended that the agency pursue a pathway to carbon neutrality by 2045, requiring little immediate action to reduce climate pollution. CARB must adopt a Final Scoping Plan before the end of 2022, which will determine the direction of California’s climate policy for … Read more

Categories Clean Energy
| Press Release

Bill to set nation’s first-ever targets for naturally removing past climate pollution passes out of California Assembly Natural Resources Committee

SACRAMENTO, April 26, 2022 — By a 7-3 vote, the Natural Carbon Sequestration and Resilience Act (AB 2649) advanced out of the California Assembly Natural Resources Committee on Monday evening. AB 2649 aims to set California’s first-ever statutory targets for naturally removing past climate pollution from the atmosphere through soil and vegetation on natural, urban, … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Climate Targets