News & Updates

Governor Newsom Presents $300.7B Blueprint Paving the California Way Forward

As global inflation and war in Europe drive up costs across the country, California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a $300.7 billion budget to provide relief from rising inflation, ensure public safety, address homelessness, transform public education, and combat climate change. The Governor’s California Blueprint includes $47.1 billion to tackle pollution, build climate resilient water supplies, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, ensure grid reliability and accelerate clean energy solutions, and protect communities from extreme heat. Read the Governor’s budget press release and California Climate Commitment. (5/13/22)

CARB releases ambitious draft climate action plan

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) today released a draft plan that charts rapid timeline to cut pollution and engage every sector of the world’s fifth largest economy. When final, it will guide the state’s transition to a clean energy economy, drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 or sooner, and significantly clean the state’s air, especially in disadvantaged communities disproportionately burdened by persistent pollution. Read the Draft 2022 Scoping Plan Update and the press release. (5/10/22)

California Holds Boeing Accountable for Cleanup at Toxic Santa Susana Field Laboratory

In a major development to strengthen the cleanup of contamination at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in southeastern Ventura County, the California Environmental Protection Agency announced a comprehensive framework that establishes strict cleanup protocols and timelines for The Boeing Co. The framework ensures that: (1) Boeing will clean up chemical contamination in its areas of responsibility to a health protective cleanup standard that could be as stringent as a “Resident with Garden” standard that has long been advocated for by members of the surrounding community; (2) Boeing will clean up radionuclides in soil in its areas of responsibility to levels that would exist locally without industrial activity; and (3) Following the cleanup, stormwater runoff from the Boeing areas will not be polluted. Read the press release. (5/9/22)

New Designation Identifies Disadvantaged Communities Eligible for Climate Funds 

CalEPA formally designated four categories of geographic areas as disadvantaged, pursuant to SB 535 (De León, 2012), in its release of the updated Designation of Disadvantaged Communities. Disadvantaged communities in California are specifically targeted for investment of proceeds from the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program. These investments are aimed at improving public health, quality of life and economic opportunity in California’s most burdened communities, and at the same time, reducing the pollution that causes climate change. The update is based on the recently updated CalEnviroScreen version 4.0. It goes into effect no later than July 1. The update is available in English and Spanish at California Climate Investments to Benefit Disadvantaged Communities. (5/3/22)

State, Federal Agencies Announce Agreement with Local Water Suppliers to Improve the Health of Rivers and Landscapes

State, federal and local water leaders announced broad agreement on measures to provide additional water flows and new habitat to help improve conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed today outlines terms for a transformational eight-year program that would provide substantial new flows for the environment to help recover salmon and other native fish, create new and restored habitat for fish and wildlife, and provide significant funding for environmental improvements and water purchases. Read the press release. (3/29/22)