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Testimony: Strengthening Cap and Invest to reduce more climate pollution

On May 6, 2026, the California Senate Joint Budget Committees and the Environmental Quality Committee held an informational hearing on the state’s Cap and Invest program. California’s Cap and Invest program, formerly called Cap and Trade, is a market-based system intended to reduce climate pollution and generate funds to invest in climate solutions. But as … Read more

Categories Climate Targets
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Support The Climate Center’s team in this year’s California Green Fondo Climate Ride

Photo via Laurie-Ann Barbour.

The Climate Center is a beneficiary of Climate Ride, a nonprofit that organizes active events to raise money for the planet. This year, we are fundraising for our work by participating in the Green Fondo Northern California cycling event. Read our stories about why we ride! Laurie-Ann, Administrative Manager: Having just celebrated my twelfth anniversary … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Climate Targets
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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
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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
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How EVs can help solve three of California’s toughest challenges at once

California continues to lead the nation in EV adoption, even without federal tax incentives. In fact, electric and other zero-emission vehicles made up about 23 percent of new car sales in 2025, with more than 2.5 million new EVs sold since 2011 in the state.  Accelerating EV adoption even further could help California tackle three … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Transportation
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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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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
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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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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