Polluters to pay their share to solve global warming

As California implements our state cap on global warming pollution, there has been a heated debate as to how to handle permitting of pollution emissions.

As the state’s largest polluters sought the freedom to pollute our air without penalty, Environment California worked to generate public support for making polluters pay for every ton of global warming pollution emitted, enabling the state to then funnel those dollars toward clean energy solutions.

Over the course of just a few months, we generated more than 50,000 comments to the California Air Resources Board in support of auctioning 100 percent of pollution permits—a policy the Air Resources Board is now committed to implementing. This is progress, but there is more work ahead to ensure we start charging polluters for those permits right away. 

Action to protect our coast

From over-fishing to oil drilling, California’s beaches and coastal waters face giant threats that could lead to devastating changes to these ecosystems. Fortunately, standing up with Environment California in our efforts to protect our ocean is a strong majority in the California State Legislature.

Last September, 65 legislators voted in favor of a resolution (AJR 66) to strengthen fisheries management at the federal level, and 72 voted for a continued ban on offshore oil drilling (AJR 51). Both resolutions had bipartisan support and were helpful in our effort to convince Congress to protect California’s coast.

Though Congress failed to renew the moratorium on oil drilling, Environment California and our allies have vowed to keep fighting. In September, Environment California joined Assemblymembers Pedro Nava (Santa Barbara) and Jared Huffman (Marin) at an event calling for a continued ban on oil drilling. Gov. Schwarzenegger reiterated his opposition to oil drilling shortly thereafter.

McWay Cove, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.