Real quick — Governor Gavin Newsom just released his new revised state budget proposal.

Here’s the bottom line: It’s good, but not good enough!

His initial proposal back in January called for $37.6 billion in climate over the next five years. This “May Revise” proposes an additional $9.5 billion in climate, for a total of $47.1 billion.

This climate investment is unprecedented, friend, and it’s a result of the incredible outreach of climate champions like you. But to match the scale of the crisis, we must double down on investments in clean air, energy, transportation, and other infrastructure by increasing the climate budget to $75 billion (just 5% of the state budget).

We have the solutions to solve the climate crisis — from preventing wildfires with smoke systems to getting solar batteries in homes.

We have the money — the state has a $97.5 BILLION (!!!) budget surplus.

We just need the political will.

This is an opportunity for Governor Newsom to reestablish California as a global leader on climate by making a down payment on our future. The climate crisis is an existential threat, and his job is to ensure victory in the fight.

Allocating 5% of the state budget to climate will give us the tools we need to adequately address the crisis. Friend, send a message to Governor Newsom today asking him to sign a budget that invests $75 billion in climate over the next five years.

Thanks for making your voice heard,

- Samuel Sukaton, California Environmental Voters

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

From: Samuel Sukaton, California Environmental Voters (formerly CLCV)
To: [email protected]
Date: May 2, 2022
Subject: ​This is our chance, friend!

Friend, California is on the cusp of an incredible opportunity.

Because of its massive budget surplus, California has the means to place a down payment on our future with a substantial investment in climate.

Governor Newsom proposed investing $37.6 billion on climate over the next five years. While that number is historic, just doing better than before won’t save our future.

So California Environmental Voters is asking him to double that and invest 5% of the budget on climate to match the scale of the crisis.

We have the solutions. We have the money. We just need the political will.

Right now, will you ask Governor Newsom to double down on climate and support a state budget that dedicates $75 billion to climate?

Honestly, budgets are moral documents. They show what we care about, and how much we care about it, by literally putting a dollar figure behind it.

Doubling down and investing $75 billion on climate — just 5% of the budget — would give us the weapons we need to win this fight.

It would allow the state to decarbonize in ways that are rapid, permanent, and angled toward racial and economic justice. And it would allow us to help communities and populations who haven’t received enough investment.

We understand that the State Senate has found $68 billion in unanticipated revenue this year, and projects another $65 billion in 2023-24; we need to put this unexpected windfall to work to stave off the entirely expected damage of climate chaos.

This is our chance to meet the climate crisis head on. We can’t afford to pass up this opportunity.

Now is the time for climate champions to lead the way. Tell Governor Newsom to fund our future and to make California a global leader on climate once again >>

Thank you for making your voice heard.

Samuel Sukaton
State Advocacy Coordinator
California Environmental Voters
(formerly California League of Conservation Voters)

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California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters), formerly California League of Conservation Voters, 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.