Friend,

Yesterday, California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed his new proposal for the next state budget, including an additional $4 billion in cuts and delays to climate programs.

This proposal represents a retreat from our commitment to stave off the worst impacts of the climate crisis. California can’t claim to be serious about taking on the climate crisis by cutting green programs at the same time it hands out huge subsidies to Big Oil and other corporate polluters.

But these cuts aren’t set in stone yet. We have an opportunity to push back and demand a commitment to climate funding in the 2024-25 state budget before the final package is voted on, no later than June 15.

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Let’s take a look at the potential cuts in this budget proposal:

Corporate Transparency and Climate Risk Disclosure

Last year, EnviroVoters members across the state helped us pass SB 253 and SB 261, the strongest set of corporate emissions transparency and climate risk disclosure rules in the country. Implementing SB 253, which is estimated to only cost 0.0003% of the state’s total budget in the first year, would make California a world leader in the fight to hold the biggest corporate polluters accountable for their greenhouse gas emissions. But this proposed budget is silent on funding for the implementation of these new laws, leaving them inactive and idle at a time they are more necessary than ever.

Cleaner Transportation

The proposal includes a more than two-year delay for California’s zero-emission vehicle programs. This means not only cuts this year but also reduced anticipated funding in future years, slowing down our transition to cleaner transportation. The most immediate impact? A $600 million cut from this year’s zero-emission vehicle programs, including Clean Cars 4 All, as well as initiatives for clean trucks and public transportation like buses.

Residential Solar Power and Storage

The science is clear: A massive expansion of residential solar power and energy storage is necessary to meet California’s climate goals and reduce building emissions, one of the largest emissions sources in the state. But the proposed budget does not spare residential solar programs either; instead it puts forward $200 million in cuts. At a time when we must ramp up investment in rooftop solar, this move is a step backwards for the Golden State.

Good News… Sort of

For the first time, the Governor has proposed ending some oil and gas subsidies, which would save California taxpayers as much as $22 million this year. While we’re happy to see an interest in cutting oil subsidies to unlock new funding, in a $58 billion budget these specific subsidies represent a drop in the bucket. We can and must do more. In fact, EnviroVoters has signed onto a letter calling on the Governor to end subsidies and tax benefits for the fossil fuel industry — which would save us $9 billion! — at a time when Big Oil and other corporate polluters report record profits year after year.

The silver lining? State legislators now have the opportunity to reshape this narrative as they work on their version of the budget. We need them to understand that reversing these cuts and prioritizing our climate is not just an option but an absolute necessity.

We urge you to join us in voicing your concerns. Let’s remind California leaders that when it comes to climate action, every decision, every dollar, and every day counts. 

Veda Banerjee
Communications Director
California Environmental Voters



------ Begin Forwarded Message ------

From: Mike Young, California Environmental Voters
To: [email protected]
Date: January 10, 2024
Subject: UPDATE: 2024 CA Budget Proposal


Hi friend,

This morning, California Governor Gavin Newsom introduced his proposal for the 2024-25 state budget. He has proposed another $4 billion in cuts to the already-cut climate budget. That’s a total of $6 billion in cuts from 2022’s original $54 billion climate budget!

With California experiencing unprecedented heat, flooding, and rising sea levels, we had hoped for a more courageous proposal in spite of the current budget deficit. For the first time, the Governor has proposed ending some oil subsidies, but it’s a drop in the bucket to what is possible and what this moment calls for.

As the climate crisis speeds up, we can’t be slowing down our investment. We must maximize the funding for climate solutions by ending subsidies to the oil and gas industry and committing to a robust climate bond.

Friend, join us in asking the Governor to do more to fund climate investments in the state budget >> [link removed]

It’s important to remember that this budget process is not over. Today begins the next six months of negotiations between the Legislature and Governor on the final budget, which must be passed by June 15.

And we are also looking forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to make 2024 a year of innovative and courageous climate leadership.

In today’s press conference, Governor Newsom said that extreme weather patterns directly lead to extreme volatility in financial projections. Unless we stand in the face of the climate crisis and get serious about funding projects to fight it every single year, our economy and environment will only continue to get more extreme and volatile.

For every “dollar” saved right now, Californians will pay exponentially more in the devastation of communities, livelihoods and lives lost.

California has the opportunity this year to catalyze global climate action with the implementation of SB 253 and SB 261. These groundbreaking bills include language to advance start-up expenses with a loan from current funding sources. This is low hanging fruit to continue our progress and protect our future.

It’s simple, friend: For a greener future for California and the entire planet, we need a more courageous budget, with solutions like ending corporate polluter handouts.

Please sign our petition to show Governor Newsom that the public demands that California ramp up its climate investments instead of cutting them → [link removed]

Thank you for your constant commitment to climate justice.

Mike Young
Senior Political and Organizing Director
California Environmental Voters



California Environmental Voters
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Oakland, CA 94607
United States
+15102710900 | [email protected]

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California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. To protect our air, land, water, and future, we organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. Our vision is to solve the climate crisis, build resilient, connected, healthy communities, and create a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all.

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