Friend, as you know, we’ve been pushing hard for a major climate investment in the state budget (AKA, a “Climate Courage Budget”). So I wanted to give you an update on where we’re at and how we got here.

IN JANUARY: Governor Newsom proposed investing $37.6 billion over five years (just 2% of the budget) on climate, and we asked you to reach out to leaders and ask them to double that to $75 billion to solve the climate crisis.

IN MAY: Governor Newsom revised his proposal with an additional $9.5 billion for climate, which was good but still not good enough because scientists tell us this decade is our last chance to prevent a permanent climate catastrophe — and California has a nearly $100 billion budget surplus!

IN JUNE: The Legislature passed a $300 billion state budget, with $21 billion for climate and energy funding but without much clarity.

NOW: Governor Newsom and legislative leaders are finalizing a $54 billion climate budget.

This is a historic investment, but we’ve still got work to do to meet the urgency of the crisis.

So we’re reaching out to the top three leaders in Sacramento: Governor Newsom, Speaker Anthony Rendon, and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkin. Will you send them each an email urging them to pass a Climate Courage Budget with more climate and clean energy funding?

Friend, as climate budget negotiations conclude this month, we are fighting for investments in offshore wind, community solar, and extreme heat resiliency.

Those three priorities are crucial for California to transition to a clean energy economy and protect our future – and our present.

$54 billion for climate is unprecedented, but the most devastating effects of the climate crisis will be irreversible if we don’t make huge strides now through the end of this decade.

Better is not good enough. We’ve got to do more. We’ve got to be bold.

And California has a budget surplus of nearly $100 billion. We can afford to use more of that for climate; in fact, we can’t afford not to.

So send Governor Newsom, Speaker Rendon, and Pro Tem Atkins thanking them for the current climate budget but asking them to invest even more in renewable energy and safeguards to protect us from the worst effects of this crisis >>

Thanks for acting on this.

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

EnviroVoters is hiring! Join us to work on critical climate legislation work.

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.