Press Release
September 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2020
CONTACT: Katherine Zaremba, 541.224.4262
[email protected]
Kevin Samy | [email protected]
ENVIROVOTERS STATEMENT ON END OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION:
“ANOTHER YEAR OF INACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE”
Sacramento, CA – Today, the California Environmental Voters released the following statement about the end of the legislative session in Sacramento. The statement highlights the legislature’s inaction on the climate crisis over the past year and calls on California’s elected leaders to rise to the urgent challenge of addressing this crisis.
Statement from Mary Creasman, CEO, California Environmental Voters:
“This was a very disappointing end to another disappointing year of inaction on the climate crisis by California’s state legislature. What’s most heartbreaking is the pain that families are feeling across the state as they battle fires, toxic air quality, extreme heat, rolling black outs, amid a respiratory pandemic – all of which is preventable. We know how to stop these worsening climate impacts and how to become more resilient to our changing climate, but our elected officials kicked the can down the road yet again this year.
Bills to address single-use plastics (AB 1080/SB 54) failed to get the final 4 votes needed to move forward in the final moments of this year’s legislative session. Legislation to stop oil companies from drilling near homes and schools (AB 345) died in Committee. An effort to protect 30% of our lands and waters by the year 2030 didn’t advance (AB 3030). And the Assembly Transportation Committee is still run by Jim Frazier, who is obstructing efforts to address the biggest source of climate emissions in our state.
We only have until 2030 to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis and prepare for what’s happening, and right now there’s no clear vision or agenda from leadership in Sacramento on how to tackle this challenge. Big Oil and other industry interests have a hold on our state legislature and are putting our future at risk. There are a handful of elected officials in Sacramento who are fighting hard to advance climate justice, but their numbers are too few. We need bold swings, not baby steps, to meet this deadline — and voters are far ahead of our legislative leaders on this, with research showing this is their priority this cycle.
The Governor’s and Legislator’s inaction this year will cost many Californians their lives and livelihoods. These are decisions with real impacts, and our communities deserve better. What will it take?”
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.
