EnviroVoters, EnviroVoters Education Fund, and our PAC entities had a banner year in 2022. We succeeded in electing climate champions and helping to pass significant climate legislation. It is only because of the support of our generous contributors and our activist community that we were able to make such critical progress over the past year in California’s fight to equitably solve the climate crisis.

Here are our 2022 top moments!

1. 70% Win Rate for Climate Slate in Midterm Election: Envirovoters and our PAC entities, along with our partners and allies in the movement, helped our climate champion candidates win in 9 of our 13 priority races. These were some of the toughest, hardest fought races in the state, where climate justice champions often went head to head against multi-million dollar spending from Big Oil. Our endorsed candidates had an 85% win rate overall — 40 out of 44 in the Assembly and 8 of 13 in the Senate — proving that in 2022 oil money is not just toxic, but a losing strategy.

2. Nearly $50 billion for Climate in the State Budget: EnviroVoters created and deployed a multi-pronged accountability campaign targeting state leaders and pushing for more significant investment from the state surplus into fighting the climate crisis. Thanks to collaboration with partners on our #CLIMATECOURAGE Campaign, California made historic investments in climate at $37 billion, and then our advocacy succeeded in increasing that by an additional $17 billion. This is the first time climate is represented holistically in the state general budget and has significant allocations for transportation and zero-emission vehicles, energy, water/drought, and wildfire prevention and suppression.

3. Made Significant Progress Phasing Out Fossil Fuels: SB 1137 prohibits oil and gas drilling within 3,200 feet of homes, daycares, schools, hospitals, and other sensitive sites. SB 1314 bans the use of captured carbon for Big Oil’s greenwashed practice of “enhanced oil recovery.” AB 1757 sets targets for removing carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. And AB 1279 commits California to achieve carbon neutrality ASAP but no later than 2045. These bills will have a lasting impact on the health and lives of Californians.

4. First in the Nation Plastic Pollution Bill: SB 54, the California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act, will begin the critical process of phasing out single-use plastic in California and instead shift to recyclable or compostable materials. After decades of work to tackle the plastics pollution crisis, this bill is a monumental and historic step forward.

5. Passed the biggest federal investment in climate action ever: In partnership with our California delegation, states across the US, and the League of Conservation Voters, EnviroVoters worked to help to pass the biggest federal investment in climate action ever signed into law. The IRA invests $369 billion towards climate solutions and will reduce air pollution, clean up air and water in underserved communities, spur the transition to clean energy and electric vehicles, and restore California’s coastline.

6. Secured Game-changing Clean Car Rule Through EnviroVoters’ dedicated work to hold California’s regulatory commissions accountable, the California Air Resources Board passed Advanced Clean Cars II, which will result in 100% of new car sales being zero-emission vehicles by 2035. This is a critically important step towards addressing an enormous source of emissions, will have direct public health benefits by reducing air pollution from smog and other particulates, and will likely be adopted by other states.

7. Led California’s delegation at COP 15: California was the only U.S. state to participate in COP 15 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal in December, and EnviroVoters Education Fund led the way bringing a twenty-five person delegation, with seven California Assemblymembers and Senators, to discuss a once-in-a-decade plan to save life on Earth. 22 targets were set at COP 15, including an international 30×30 target following California’s lead.

8. Won Huge Clean Air Win in Southern California: The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which maintains the air quality of more than 19 million Californians, made a significant pivot and passed an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) that prioritizes a transition to zero-emissions technology, instead of a hybrid approach that keeps us dependent on fossil fuels.

9. Cultivated 10 emerging climate leaders in battleground regions: EnviroVoters Education Fund is excited to be expanding the Ambassadors program piloted in 2021, a year-long leadership development program. This year’s cohort of 10 highly-driven young community leaders hails from the Inland Empire and the Central Valley. They are: Leah Harrison Lurie, Lisa Imai, Pa Houa Lee, Jessica Lemus, Tim McCormick, Maxine Mendenhall, Donna Nino, Wendy Pernillo, Giselle Toscano, and Mariela Vasquez.

10. We’re Turning 50: Stay tuned. EnviroVoters is celebrating half a century of getting our priority bills signed into law, holding legislators accountable with our Environmental Scorecards, and forming partnerships with pro-environment coalitions. Since California League of Conservation Voters (now California Environmental Voters) was founded in 1972, we have helped to pass some of California’s landmark policies, such as the AB1493 the Clean Tailpipe Emissions Act of 2002, AB 32 the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, SB100 the 100% Clean Energy Act of 2018, and more. Stay tuned for more celebrating in the new year!

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Thank you for being part of our environmental movement.

Cheers to making more progress in 2023!

Mary Creasman
Chief Executive Officer
California Environmental Voters
Formerly CLCV


California Environmental Voters (formerly CLCV)
350 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 1100
Oakland, CA 94612
United States
15102710900 | [email protected]

EnviroVoters is hiring! Join us to work on critical climate legislation work. [[link removed]?]

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.

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