Climate Justice

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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
| Take Action

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
| Blog Post

The ‘drill, baby, drill’ agenda arrives in California

Activists with Greenpeace, Oil & Gas Action Network and Regenerating Paradise gather at a burn scar site in the North Complex Fire urging Governor Newsom to take immediate action to phase out fossil fuels and end neighborhood drilling.

Just one year ago, fossil fuel corporations were forced to withdraw a California ballot measure that would have canceled public health protections for communities near oil and gas drilling operations. Today, those same corporations are fighting back with a vengeance, laying the groundwork to expand drilling on land and at sea in California.   Since losing … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Just Transition
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Climate action will make California more affordable

Right now, California lawmakers have an opportunity to secure a more affordable and livable future for us all through climate-smart policies. Our work here is more urgent than ever: the state faces an estimated $12 billion deficit and the law- and science-denying administration in D.C. is hellbent on destroying 55 years of environmental protection and … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels
| Press Release

California is facing a historic budget deficit. Making polluters pay is the solution. 

Activists and lawmakers gather for the Make Polluters Pay rally in fall of 2024. Photo by Ryan Schleeter.

SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his May budget revision, which outlines his plans to address a historic deficit estimated at $12 billion.  In response, Barry Vesser, Chief Operating Officer for The Climate Center, said: “California is in a budget crisis. Making Polluters Pay is the solution. The state cannot afford to continue giving … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels
| Blog Post

The 2025 California Climate Policy Summit: Growing our power together

Thanks to the more than 400 of you who were able to join us last week for the 2025 California Climate Policy Summit in Sacramento. It was an inspiring day of learning, action, and community, despite the challenges we face from rapidly worsening climate impacts and a science-denying, pro-oil federal administration. California State Senate President … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Climate Targets Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Natural Carbon Sequestration
| Blog Post

The Climate Center presents Senator Monique Limón with the second annual California Climate Leadership Award

Ellie Cohen and Senator Monique Limón

Welcome Senator Monique Limón! We are thrilled and honored to award you with this year’s California Climate Leadership Award. Senator Limón was elected to the Senate in November 2020 and represents Santa Barbara County, most of Ventura County, and part of San Luis Obispo County. Senator Limón is a leader among leaders. She is Chair … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Public Health
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The climate movement needs all hands on deck

We must act with courage and perseverance in these challenging times. That is one of the key takeaways I shared in a newly released book, Facing the Climate Future Together: Voices for Advocacy and Action, highlighting The Climate Center’s work alongside 32 other climate leaders.  These leaders know that taking action is essential to advancing … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels