Press Release

| Press Release

Oil corporations spend millions of dollars to block California public health law

SAN FRANCISCO — Late last week, the California Secretary of State’s office announced that it has certified the oil industry-backed referendum challenging SB 1137. The law, passed last year, would have prohibited new oil drilling within 3,200 feet of sensitive sites like homes, schools, hospitals, and prisons. The referendum will go before voters on the … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Public Health
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California’s top oil and gas regulator steps down – The Climate Center response

SAN FRANCISCO — Yesterday, Supervisor Uduak-Joe Ntuk announced that he will be stepping down as leader of the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM). Ntuk was appointed to the role — which oversees permitting for oil and gas drilling, public health and safety, and compliance with environmental regulations — by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Public Health
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$6 billion cut from climate programs in California state budget – The Climate Center response

California Flag

SACRAMENTO, January 11, 2023 — Facing a projected overall budget deficit of $22.5 billion, Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday $6 billion in proposed cuts to climate and energy programs in the state’s 2023-2024 budget. If approved by the legislature in May, that would bring California’s multi-year climate spending down to $48 billion, an 11 percent … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Transportation
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California formally adopts climate plan overly reliant on engineered carbon removal

SACRAMENTO — Moments ago, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously voted to adopt the final Scoping Plan, the state’s five-year roadmap for meeting its climate targets. While feedback from scientists and advocates has improved the plan significantly since the beginning of the year, gaps in CARB’s modeling and flaws in its approach to carbon … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Climate Justice Climate Targets
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New rules threaten to slow the growth of solar in California – The Climate Center response

Professional technician working with screwdriver connecting solar photo voltaic panel to metal platform on summer rural landscape background. Stand-alone exterior solar panel system installation.

SACRAMENTO — Moments ago, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously to adopt new rules for how residential rooftop solar customers, schools, churches, farms, and businesses will be compensated for the electricity they deliver back to the grid. Unfortunately, pressure from corporate utilities resulted in a proposal that would slash the rate paid to these solar … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
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California oil industry subverts democracy, delays public health protections

Neighborhood Drilling in Kern County

SACRAMENTO — This week, the California Independent Petroleum Association announced that it has collected enough signatures to qualify a petition to overturn SB 1137, a law banning new oil drilling within 3,200 feet of sensitive sites like homes, schools, hospitals, and prisons. In response, The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen said: “Californians overwhelmingly support public … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Public Health
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California’s new five-year climate plan relies on fantasy levels of engineered carbon removal — The Climate Center response

It's Time to Cut Carbon

SAN FRANCISCO — Moments ago, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released its final Scoping Plan, the state’s five-year roadmap for achieving its climate goals. After months of consultation with climate experts and advocates, as well as intervention from Governor Newsom, the plan reflects some significant improvements. These include a commitment to avoid the buildout … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Climate Justice Fossil Fuels
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Deceptive, billionaire-funded campaign kills California’s Prop 30

Electric Vehicles Charging at a Station

SAN FRANCISCO, November 9, 2022 — Prop 30, the only statewide climate measure on the California ballot this year, failed to pass. As of this morning, the margin is 59-41 with nearly half the votes counted. A misleading opposition campaign funded largely by billionaires distracted from the true intent of Prop 30: to make clean … Read more

Categories Transportation
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Governor Newsom signs California’s natural climate solutions bill AB 1757 into law

The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen and Governor Gavin Newsom

VALLEJO, California — Moments ago, Governor Newsom signed AB 1757 (C. Garcia and Rivas) into law. The new law requires state agencies to set targets for natural carbon removal and emissions reductions on natural and working lands, based on earlier legislation (AB 2649, C. Garcia) sponsored by The Climate Center with the Carbon Cycle Institute, California Association … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration
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California legislative session ends with breakthroughs on climate

Climate Rally in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO — On the final day to pass legislation in 2022, California state lawmakers went late into the night to deliver historic policies that will reduce climate pollution and protect frontline communities.  In response, The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen said: “California has the tools and know-how to lead the world toward a climate-safe future. … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Climate Justice Climate Targets Fossil Fuels Public Health