FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Voters deserve a choice in November to keep California leading the fight against climate change or submit to a future with more preventable extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and harmful pollution

For the first time, environmental and equity organizations combined climate action funding priorities into a bond framework focused on the communities and natural resources most at risk, with more than 40% of funds to support climate priorities of communities most affected by poverty and pollution

While two climate bond proposals have stalled in the Legislature, state leaders have a month to take action

SACRAMENTO, CA — On the steps of the State Capitol, representatives of a coalition including 170 environmental, environmental justice, and sustainable agriculture organizations urged Governor Newsom and lawmakers to give voters a chance to stabilize and boost climate action funding by placing a robust, equitable climate bond on the November ballot as part of the state budget agreement next month.

Two years ago, California’s leaders committed a lump sum of $54 billion in state funding for climate action over the next five years but they have since made cuts. They cut $3.1 billion last year. In January, Governor Newsom proposed $2.88 billion in cuts along with $3.35 billion more cuts within his May Revise budget. State leaders have until June 27 to place bond measures on the November ballot. 

“Californians are depending on their leaders to have climate courage, not wave the white flag. This is the moment scientists are telling us to do more to prevent a deadly climate future defined by extreme heat, wildfires, and pollution along with cycles of flooding and drought,” said Melissa Romero, Deputy Legislative Director of California Environmental Voters. “Voters need a chance to support a robust, equitable climate bond. It’s our health, lives, and jobs on the line. It’s our kids’ future that needs protection.”

“California can’t afford to let today’s budget crisis overshadow the climate emergency. We have cutting edge climate policies, know-how, and global alliances but the scale of our climate ambitions dwarfs our investments to do the work,” said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, California State Director of Environmental Defense Fund. “After rounds of climate budget cuts and delays, we need a turning point. Voters deserve a say on stabilizing climate action funding—and state leaders must give them one by putting a robust, equitable climate bond on the ballot.”

The signs of advancing climate change surround us. Wildfires are bigger and more dangerous than ever, darkening skies with toxic smoke. Our safety, access to clean water, and ability to produce healthy food are threatened by boom and bust cycles of drought and floods. Extreme heat waves are the deadliest of natural disasters.

As climate extremes tighten their grip on California, communities are already struggling. 

• Communities in the Central Valley have the state’s worst air quality. Topping the list are Tulare County with a projected 83 days of unhealthy this year and 82 days in Fresno County.

• Communities where people of color with low-incomes reside bear the brunt of heatwaves due to older housing stock, inadequate in-home cooling, and a lack of shade trees.

• The combined harm of extreme heat and inhalation of wildfire smoke in California increased hospitalizations and disproportionately impacted low-income communities and Latino, Black, Asian and other racially marginalized residents.

• Millions of Californians lack access to safe, clean water, especially in the Central Valley. Statewide, nearly 1,000 water systems are failing or at risk. More than 60% of these systems serve disadvantaged or seriously disadvantaged communities.

Some 170 organizations have endorsed a robust, equitable climate bond framework focused on the communities and natural resources most at risk while supporting investments to protect safe drinking water and clean air, prevent wildfires, help communities prepare for extreme heat, promote sustainable agriculture, and mitigate sea-level rise.

“Frontline communities have a history of marginalization and disinvestment and will need support to fight climate change now. Climate change is having the biggest impact on them, widening inequities in California,” said Nataly Escobedo Garcia, Water Policy Coordinator at the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability. “Frontline communities don’t have to be sacrificed to the budget deficit. This budget crisis is a chance for California to remind the world why we deserve to be called a climate leader. State leaders must give us a chance to vote on a bond to build an equitable climate future.

The Legislature has until June 27 to place a climate bond on the ballot – giving the Governor and lawmakers about a month to act. With lower-income Californians bearing the brunt of climate change, the climate bond coalition has urged state leaders to support an equitable bond, with at least 40% of funding directed at communities most affected by poverty and pollution.

“California is on track to repeat the mistakes of its past and make working-class communities of color pay the price for closing the budget deficit. Our environmental justice programs have been zeroed out or dramatically reduced. If we seek to build a more equitable climate future, then that work started yesterday.” said Elle Chen, Legislative Director of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network. “A climate bond will build life-saving infrastructure to strengthen resilience in disadvantaged communities. The decisions we make now can build a safe, healthy future for all. An equitable climate bond on the November ballot is an essential step towards that future."

As two climate bond proposals – AB 1567 and SB 867 – have stalled in California’s State Legislature, Californians are ready to support a climate bond.

• Eight in 10 Californians say climate change has become a “top concern,” according to the Public Policy Institute of California. 

• A March poll released by The Nature Conservancy found 60% of likely voters would support a multi-billion dollar climate bond, with pollsters concluding a measure “remains well-positioned for passage in November 2024.”

• A poll released in January by the California Health Care Foundation/NORC found 65% of Californians with low incomes are “very” or “somewhat” worried about the effect of extreme heat, floods, wildfires, and air quality on their or a family member’s physical/mental health. This figure rises to 83% among Spanish speakers. 

Learn more about California’s climate risks and the 170 organizations supporting a robust, equitable climate bond on the November 2024 ballot at caclimatebond.org.

###