Sacramento, CA—Today, Governor Newsom announced a $15 billion climate package including nearly $4 billion for electric vehicles, $5 billion for drought management, and $1.5 billion for wildfires, forest management, and prescribed burns in the state of California. However, the Governor made no mention of immediate action on phasing out fossil fuels.
In response, groups with Last Chance Alliance issued the following statements:
“While today’s announcement from Governor Newsom is historic, we can only hope that his administration follows through on their commitment to climate action by ending the harm of oil and gas extraction where it impacts people first. It’s time for California to end the racist legacy of neighborhood oil and gas extraction and move toward a just transition by enacting minimum 2,500ft setbacks now and an end to new permits within that zone until a health and safety rule takes effect,” said Kobi Naseck, Coalition Coordinator, VISIÓN (Voices in Solidarity Against Oil in Neighborhoods)
“I’m continually amazed how the Governor keeps missing opportunities to address one of the key root causes of climate change in the state of California, which is fossil fuels. In public health, we focus on disease prevention. We know that we can keep treating people with diseases and keep throwing more and more resources in doing so, but what really works is addressing the cause. The Governor once again missed a chance to do something significant with fossil fuel extraction in California and thus missed a chance for climate change and disease primary prevention.” said Barbara Sattler, RN, DrPH, Professor Emeritus, University of San Francisco and Board member of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
“Wake me up when the Legislature and the Governor spend $15 billion to cut the supply of carbon — California’s thousands of oil wells,” said RL Miller of Climate Hawks Vote.
“Governor Newsom’s $15 billion climate package is impressive in its scope and emphasis on electrification and fire prevention, but it lacks the ultimate fire prevention method: stopping new permits for the drilling of fossil fuels,” said Food & Water Watch’s California Director Alexandra Nagy. “There can be no discussion of resiliency in the face of wildfires without stopping the rampant expansion of fossil fuel drilling and infrastructure immediately. Under Newsom’s administration over 9,000 oil and gas permits have been granted to fossil fuel companies, directly fueling the flames of these scorching wildfires. Governor Newsom is absolutely correct in his assertion that our climate crisis has accelerated to the point where wildfire season is all year round. But leaving out such a key climate change accelerator as fossil fuels from the most ambitious climate package in the country is wildly shortsighted.
“While EOPA California applauds the Governor’s measures today, as long as California is drilling, refining and producing oil and gas we are guilty of fueling the climate crisis,” said Dominic Frongillo, Executive Director/Co-Founder of Elected Officials to Protect America. “He has to address the core issue. Fossil fuel companies have taken priority over the lives and livelihoods of millions of Califonians for too long. The health of every Califonian has to be valued over the bottom line of these corporations.”
“Over 320 elected officials should never be overlooked by their governor. EOPA California’s letter showed a clear path for his administration to mitigate this emergency and save lives. In the letter, we requested he stop new fossil fuel permits, phase out fossil fuels immediately and institute 2,500-foot buffers between drill operations and community sites, while ensuring a just transition for workers,” said Nicole Twohig-Chamberlain, EOPA Development and California State Director.
“California continues to be one of the largest producers of oil and gas in America,” said Firebaugh City Councilmember Felipe Perez, EOPA California Leadership Council. “As long as the state produces the fuel of the climate crisis, we cannot seriously claim to be decarbonizing the economy — for the Californian economy is intertwined in the global economy. We must stop fueling the flames of climate change caused by the oil and gas industry. As long as the governor issues drilling permits, lets fracking continue, and allows refineries to operate we are part of the problem. We need to show the way and be a part of the solution.”
“Fifteen billion dollars is a lot of money, but if the Governor really wants to future-proof California as he said, then he must know that throwing money at the problem while continuing to approve new fossil fuel permits that are driving the climate chaos, is nonsensical,” said Greenpeace Senior Climate Campaigner Dr. Amy Moas. Thus far, Newsom has also failed to commit the bold investments necessary to protect workers and communities most impacted by the climate crisis and the necessary just transition to a renewable energy economy.”
“We are grateful to Governor Newsom for investing $15 billion in climate programs over the next three years, furthering the work of the state legislature to make an historic down payment for climate resilience,” said Ellie Cohen, CEO of The Climate Center. “But we’re already deep in a climate emergency. Health professionals around the world have made it clear that no rise in global temperatures is safe. We urge the governor to commit to no new oil and gas infrastructure permits, health and safety setbacks to protect frontline communities, and an equitable transition for fossil fuel workers and their families. Doing more today will save countless lives and dollars down the line.”
“While this historic climate package will be a major boost for our state’s transition to clean energy sources, it misses the mark in a critical area,” said Wilder Zeiser, Sacramento resident and U.S. Oil and Gas Campaigner for Stand.earth. “More funding is needed to decarbonize buildings, which account for almost 10 percent of the statewide emissions. On Wednesday night, California hit a major policy milestone—50 cities have adopted building electrification policies statewide. However, these primarily address new construction. We must find cost-effective, safe, and equitable means to get harmful sources of indoor air pollution out of the existing buildings in our neighborhoods through retrofits. The Legislature’s funding will be essential to ensuring the success of these efforts.”
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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
