The Climate Center

| Report

Resilient Communities, Resilient Grid

How Electric School Buses Can Help

Bidirectional electric school buses (ESBs) have enormous untapped potential to improve student health, enable community energy resilience during power outages, and build a more reliable grid through vehicle-grid integration. To realize these multiple benefits, California must enact policy to prioritize ESBs to enhance electricity affordability, resilience, and reliability. While the primary purpose of ESBs is … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Transportation
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Urge the California Energy Commission to invest in geothermal energy

Geothermal energy plant. Photo by Canva.

To achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2045, California will need more wind, solar, and battery storage, but that’s not all. Geothermal energy — a compelling, 24/7/365 clean energy source that can support the electrical grid around the clock — holds immense potential as a clean energy source. Recent technological advances mean geothermal development is … Read more

Categories Climate Targets Fossil Fuels
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Protect funding for climate solutions in the Cap and Invest program

Last year, the state legislature reauthorized and reformed California’s signature climate program, Cap and Invest, through 2045. The program sets a cap on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions allowed within the state, then allows companies to buy and sell permits (called “allowances”) to emit a specified amount of climate pollution. The revenue generated by … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Climate Targets
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Tell Governor Newsom to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels

In 2022 and 2024, Governor Newsom called two special sessions of the California legislature to address refinery closures, gasoline supply, and gas prices. In both special sessions, legislation was enacted to help navigate the transition to zero-emission transportation.  In these special sessions, Governor Newsom championed solutions to address the transition away from fossil fuels. Unfortunately, … Read more

Categories Fossil Fuels Just Transition
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Take action to support clean, affordable electricity solutions

Electricity bills are rising and energy demand is growing in California. We’re facing an affordability crisis where families across the state are struggling to pay their bills while investor-owned utilities continue to rake in record-setting profits. Three bills before the California legislature right now can help. SB 913 (Becker), the Clean Local Power Act, will … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience
| Blog Post

The Climate Center honors Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes and Assemblymember Isaac Bryan with the 2026 California Climate Leadership Awards

The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen (left) and Senate President pro Tempore Monique Limón (center), present Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes (right) with the 2026 California Climate Leadership Award. Photo by Lara Aburamadan / Survival Media Agency.

Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes is a fabulous leader for justice, for women, for our communities, the environment, and for education. I had the honor of attending the global United Nations Climate Conference, COP 27, in Egypt with her in 2022.  She is a brilliant leader with a huge heart. Senator Reyes … Read more

Categories Climate Justice
| Blog Post

Job opportunity: Apply to become The Climate Center’s next Chief Executive Officer

System Change Not Climate Change

The 360 Group is pleased to announce our latest search: Chief Executive Officer for The Climate Center! Founded in 2001, The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California. We are a “think and do tank” working to turn bold ideas into action … Read more

Categories Clean Energy
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Tell the California Air Resources Board to end giveaways to corporate polluters

California’s flagship climate programs funneled nearly $28 billion to oil companies and biofuel suppliers from 2013 to 2024, according to a new report from The Climate Center.  Cap and Invest (formerly known as Cap and Trade) and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) are often referred to as California’s “signature” climate programs, designed to make … Read more

Categories Climate Targets Fossil Fuels
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Tell Governor Newsom to Stand Up for Climate Action

Governor Newsom at UN Climate Week in 2023, where he committed to sign SB 253 and 261. Photo: Office of the California Governor.

This year’s United Nations climate conference, COP30 in Belém, Brazil, brought together world leaders to share how they’re tackling climate change back home. With an anti-science, pro-oil president, the world is counting on California to step up on climate. California leaders, and especially Governor Newsom, must defend California’s climate progress against attacks from the fossil … Read more

Categories Carbon Drawdown Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels
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Tell California leaders to listen to voters and invest in nature-based climate solutions

Update as of 9/16/25: The California legislature allocated the climate bond funds! Close to 1,000 members of The Climate Center community took action to ensure that Prop 4 funds would be allocated. Thank you for your advocacy. In the 2024 election, California voters approved a historic $10 billion climate bond, Prop 4, by a 60-40 … Read more

Categories Carbon Drawdown Climate Justice Climate Targets