OAKLAND, CA — Today, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) released the following statement after SB 252 died in the Assembly Public Employment and Retirement (PERs) Committee. This comes after Assemblymember Friedman’s oil company liability bill (AB 3155) and Assemblymember Bryan’s constitutional amendment (ACA 16) to enshrine Californians’ right to clean air and water also didn’t pass the Assembly this year.
Statement from Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer, California Environmental Voters:
“The longer we prop up the fossil fuel industry, the more climate devastation Californians will face. We deeply respect Committee Chair McKinnor, and we’re extremely disappointed by this decision. Business as usual in any part of our economy will not cut it. Divestment is an essential piece of the puzzle to meet the climate laws and goals our state has set. Study after study has shown that fossil fuels are a bad investment, and California unions representing state workers have come out in support of divestment. We are grateful to Senate Majority Leader Gonzalez for her vision and commitment on this issue.
With liability for oil companies (AB 3155), the right to clean air and water (ACA 16) and oil divestment (SB 252) not moving forward this year, the remaining climate justice policies need to be prioritized by our state leaders.
With extreme heat and catastrophic fires pummeling communities this week, there can be no excuses. The Governor and Legislature need to pass a robust, comprehensive, and equity-focused climate bond (AB 1567 and SB 867), cut oil subsidies and protect climate investments in the budget, make polluters pay (SB 1497), and protect communities from pollution sites through fenceline monitoring (SB 674) and warehouse development regulations. There’s still time for California leadership to make big progress on climate action this year.”
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CONTACT:
Erika Guzman Cornejo
310-755-1615
erika@envirovoters.org
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ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
