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.
| Blog Post

Stockton City Council votes unanimously for Community Choice Aggregation

Stockton City Council Meeting

On Tuesday, September 13, the Stockton City Council voted unanimously to join the East Bay Community Energy Community Choice Aggregation joint powers authority. “I’ve been working on this goal since 2016 because I recognize that Community Choice Energy offers opportunities not only to increase consumer choice and strengthen the Stockton economy, but to also address the climate … Read more

Categories Community Choice Energy
| Press Release

Governor Newsom signs California’s natural climate solutions bill AB 1757 into law

The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen and Governor Gavin Newsom

VALLEJO, California — Moments ago, Governor Newsom signed AB 1757 (C. Garcia and Rivas) into law. The new law requires state agencies to set targets for natural carbon removal and emissions reductions on natural and working lands, based on earlier legislation (AB 2649, C. Garcia) sponsored by The Climate Center with the Carbon Cycle Institute, California Association … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration
| Press Release

California legislative session ends with breakthroughs on climate

Climate Rally in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO — On the final day to pass legislation in 2022, California state lawmakers went late into the night to deliver historic policies that will reduce climate pollution and protect frontline communities.  In response, The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen said: “California has the tools and know-how to lead the world toward a climate-safe future. … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Climate Justice Climate Targets Fossil Fuels Public Health
| Blog Post

5 climate priorities as California’s legislative session wraps up for 2022

Climate Rally in Sacramento Last Chance Alliance

With less than two weeks left in the legislative session for this year, Governor Newsom has released a set of game-changing climate proposals. His draft climate package includes a more ambitious goal for reducing climate pollution by 2030, public health setbacks from dangerous oil and gas drilling, and a commitment to nature-based carbon sequestration.  This is great … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Public Health
| 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