Friend, we need to think big to solve the climate crisis.

The climate crisis is a big problem that requires big solutions.

Fortunately, we have the solutions (scroll down for some of them). 

And we have the money given that California has a massive budget surplus. 

We just need our leaders in Sacramento to actually show real leadership and courage.

Doubling down on our climate investment to $75 billion over the next five years (just 5% of the state budget) is the only appropriate response to match the scale of the crisis. Friend, will you call Governor Newsom and urge him to double down on climate?

With our budget surplus — $97.5 billion, among the largest in state history — we can make a down payment right now on our future and get on track to meet the 2030 deadline for climate action.

Here are a few of the policies we could invest in if climate represented 5% of the budget: 

• Clean transportation
• Clean energy and building decarbonization
• Clean water
• Wildfire prevention, suppression, and resilience
• Nature-based climate solutions, including support for Tribal conservation initiatives, biodiversity conservation, and coastal protection and resilience  
• Racial justice and democracy
• Workforce transition and job training and development

Budgets are where we show what we, as a state and as a society, care about. What we prioritize.

Call Governor Newsom and ask him to prioritize climate by investing in a Climate Courage Budget!

Thanks for taking this small action for big change! 

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

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

From: Mary Creasman, California Environmental Voters (formerly CLCV)
To: [email protected]
Date: May 25, 2022
Subject: 💲 97.5 billion dollars, friend

$97.5 billion, friend. That’s the size of California’s budget surplus. 

We need to put our wealth to work on climate investments now.

Will you give Governor Newsom a call and urge him to double down on climate in the state budget?

I was excited to see Governor Newsom propose an even bigger climate investment in his May Revise budget proposal a few weeks ago. $47.1 billion for climate over the next five years is great, but better doesn’t mean enough. 

The climate crisis is an existential threat and bolder action is needed to ensure victory in the fight. That’s why California Environmental Voters is urging the Governor and lawmakers to double down on investments in clean air, energy, transportation, and other infrastructure and pass a Climate Courage Budget that invests at least $75 billion over five years. 

That’s just 5% of the state budget. And friend, you know we have the money, given our historic surplus.

We won’t get a second chance to save California. Scientists tell us we have until the end of the decade to prevent a future plagued by more frequent and intense drought, extreme heat, wildfires, and pollution. 

Weak responses and delays only put our health, lives, and livelihoods at risk as these threats become more intense, frequent, and destructive. 

The state has the resources to preserve a safe and healthy future for our kids — we can't afford to pass up this opportunity, friend. Give Governor Newsom a call right now and ask him to put California’s wealth to work for climate by doubling our investment in the budget.

Let’s get this done! 

Mary Creasman
Chief Executive Officer
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.