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

Twelve Years of Giveaways to Polluting Industries via California Carbon Trading Programs

Zoom

Between 2013 and 2024, California distributed nearly $28 billion to the oil industry and biofuel companies from two state climate programs: the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the Cap and Invest program. That is the research finding that was presented in this webinar by the authors of a new report by The Climate Center: Clearing … Read more

| Blog Post

We’re at the UN climate conference in Brazil

I’m thrilled that The Climate Center is attending the United Nations annual climate conference once again. This year’s 30th “Conference of the Parties,” or COP30, brings together governmental representatives from almost every country in the world, along with tens of thousands from civil society, to advance climate action. Chief Program Officer Barry Vesser and Legislative … Read more

Categories Carbon Drawdown Clean Energy Fossil Fuels
| Take Action

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
| Blog Post

California’s 2025 legislative session closes with some climate progress

The California Legislature ended its 2025 session on Saturday. All in all, despite some setbacks, we made more progress than I thought possible.  I am very proud of the collaborative leadership role The Climate Center played, especially in light of the federal administration’s efforts to dismantle climate and clean energy policies and slash funding. The … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Natural Carbon Sequestration
| Post

Climate wins to celebrate

States are where the climate action is these days, and California has been a leader among leaders! Recent federal attacks on climate progress coupled with unprecedented climate impacts make me more committed than ever to ensure we continue to lead here in the Golden State to rapidly cut climate pollution and make our communities more … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels
| Blog Post

Testimony: Transitioning to a clean transportation future in California

On August 20, 2025, the Assembly Utilities and Energy, Natural Resources, and Transportation Committees held a joint hearing on how to further an equitable transition from fossil fuels to clean transportation fuels. The following testimony was given to the committees by Allison Hilliard, Legislative Manager for The Climate Center: We need bold, equitable action to … Read more

Categories Fossil Fuels Just Transition Transportation