Sacramento, CA—California voters have chosen to keep Gov. Gavin Newsom in office after a recall effort that’s lasted over a year and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. With the election now behind us, environmental advocates across the state are touting the strength of progressive voters who helped keep a dangerous climate denier out of office. They are now calling on Newsom to make good on his commitment to tackle the climate crisis and protect communities living on the front lines of the state’s toxic fossil fuel industry. Organizations with Last Chance Alliance who are working to move California beyond fossil fuels offered the following responses:
“Climate voters showed up for Governor Newsom, now it’s time for him to show up for us. When we cast our ballots in this election, we voted for action to address the wildfires, toxic smoke, drought, and intense heat waves that have wreaked havoc across California this summer. We’re counting on Governor Newsom to deliver by phasing out oil and gas and investing in clean, resilient energy for all,” said Ellie Cohen, CEO of The Climate Center
“Working class communities of color defeated this Republican-led recall election. Community based organizations, local community groups, and labor unions worked together to get out the vote in their communities. It’s now time to continue this momentum to usher in a bolder vision for California, one that answers to the will of the people,” said Juan Flores, community organizer with the Center on Race, Poverty & the Environment
“Governor Newsom’s victory belongs to the environmental activists and constituents who delivered their support when it mattered most. Now Newsom must return that support to Californians in the midst of this climate crisis. Newsom has taken small but encouraging steps to phase out fracking — without which he surely would not have enjoyed the critical support of so many Californians who are demanding real climate action. But the crisis is deepening faster than Newsom is acting. Wildfires made worse and droughts lengthened by a warming planet point to one obvious solution: stop new fossil fuel permits, phase out fossil fuels immediately and institute 2,500-foot buffers between drill operations and community sites. Governor Newsom’s fight isn’t over because our fight isn’t over. We must protect our planet and our people from fossil fuel extraction and infrastructure expansions. It’s time to follow the guidance of scientists all over the world and end oil and gas drilling now,” said Alexandra Nagy, Food & Water Watch’s California Director
“Fortunately, the voters gave Newsom a second chance to deliver on long overdue promises to fight the climate emergency and protect frontline communities from pollution. Now that the recall distraction is behind him, the governor has no more excuses for not taking bold action to move us to a future without filthy fossil fuels,” said Hollin Kretzmann, Senior Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity
“This week, Californians sent a clear message: we are choosing a future for our state where science prevails over denial, and where the collective power of communities prevails over monied special interests. With the recall in his rearview mirror and Californians facing a code red climate emergency, Governor Newsom must now claim his mandate to act on climate and keep California livable for future generations. It is time for Governor Newsom to phase out planet-warming fossil fuels and support workers and communities through that transition. His first step is to stop issuing new permits for planet-warming fossil fuel drilling, beginning with those within 2,500 feet of communities,” said Caroline Henderson, Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner
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Last Chance Alliance is an alliance of more than 750 public health, environmental justice, climate, and labor organizations united to urge Governor Gavin Newsom to end fossil fuel extraction across California and build a just climate future where every community can thrive.
Media Contact:
Aimee Dewing, aimee@hollywoodunited.org
