Fossil Fuels

| Blog Post

The primary is over. What does it mean for affordability and climate solutions?

With California’s gubernatorial primary outcome now settled, Xavier Becerra will face off against Steve Hilton to determine who will succeed Gavin Newsom.  Big Oil, investor-owned utilities, and other corporate interests poured more than $50 million into Becerra’s campaign so far. Becerra indicated that he’d support delaying California’s 2045 climate targets, despite having led the state’s … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Natural Carbon Sequestration
| Post

Three things that inspired me at the California Climate Policy Summit

From left to right: California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda, Senator Josh Becker, Dr. Leah Stokes of UC Santa Barbara, and The Climate Center's Allison Hilliard. Photo by Lara Aburamadan / Survival Media Agency.

There’s nothing like connecting with colleagues, experts, and friends from all over the state in person! I am so grateful to the more than 400 of you who joined us on Monday for the 2026 California Climate Policy Summit in Sacramento. What a special and inspiring day together! If you couldn’t join us, please take … Read more

Categories Carbon Drawdown Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels
| Blog Post

Opening remarks from the 2026 California Climate Policy Summit

The 2026 California Climate Policy Summit. Photo by Lara Aburamadan / Survival Media Agency.

On April 13, 2026, more than 400 elected officials, climate activists, business leaders, environmental justice advocates, scientists, and policy experts gathered for the fifth annual California Climate Policy Summit. Thank you to all of you who joined us and supported this event! Read The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen’s opening remarks below: Welcome everyone, and … Read more

Categories Carbon Drawdown Climate Targets Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels
| Blog Post

Testimony: Reforming California’s Cap and Invest program

On February 23, 2026, the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies held a hearing on the reauthorization of Cap and Invest, California’s climate program. The following testimony was given to the committee by Allison Hilliard, Legislative Manager for The Climate Center: I want to align my comments with NRDC’s and add that the proposed … Read more

Categories Climate Targets Fossil Fuels
| Blog Post

California gave polluters $28 billion meant for climate action

A new report by The Climate Center finds that, between 2013 and 2024, California funneled $27.8 billion to corporate polluters through two state climate programs designed to cut climate pollution: the Cap and Invest program and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS).  These funds were intended to incentivize low-carbon transportation, including electric vehicles and public … Read more

Categories Fossil Fuels
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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
| Press Release

New report reveals California funneled $28 billion to corporate polluters via carbon trading programs

Webinar on February 19 will unpack findings and explore policy solutions

SACRAMENTO — California’s carbon trading programs funneled $27.8 billion to oil companies and biofuel suppliers from 2013 to 2024, according to a new report from The Climate Center released today. The report, Clearing the Zero-Emission Path: A Review of Financial Transfers to Polluting Fuels via California Carbon Trading Programs, finds the combined value of free … Read more

Categories Fossil Fuels Just Transition Transportation
| Report

Clearing the Zero-Emission Path

A review of financial transfers to polluting fuels via California carbon trading programs

This report reveals how California’s carbon trading programs funneled $27.8 billion to oil companies and biofuel suppliers from 2013 to 2024.  Both the Cap and Trade program and the Low Carbon Fuel Standard have the stated purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping California meet its statutory climate goals. In reality, our analysis shows … Read more

Categories Fossil Fuels Just Transition Transportation
| Blog Post

Fight new oil and gas drilling in California

A few weeks ago, the Trump administration reintroduced plans to open nearly 2 million acres of California’s public lands to oil drilling and possibly fracking through the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In 2019, a coalition of California environmental groups successfully fought off Trump’s first attempts to open these lands — including areas close … Read more

Categories Fossil Fuels