Real Results For California's Environment

Nation’s Largest Solar Program Established
California is a world solar energy leader thanks to the 2006 Million Solar Roofs Initiative—an Environment California-led initiative. In 2008 alone, 8,000 homes and businesses went solar, generating enough electricity to power a San Francisco-sized city.

Our Ocean Legacy Protected
Endangered and threatened sea turtles, sea otters and other ocean wildlife stand a better chance of survival after more than a dozen Environment California-backed ocean protection bills became law between 2004 and 2008. In 2008, we organized Oceans Day in Sacramento to call for better stewardship of our Pacific legacy.

Yosemite, Joshua Tree and Redwoods Funded
All of California’s national parks will get much-needed relief. In 2007, after years of budget deficits, we called on Sen. Diane Feinstein to take action, and Congress increased national park funding by $191 million.

Clean Cars Coming to California
You can expect cars that get 40 miles per gallon to be the norm, after we helped establish the California Clean Cars Program, which has also been adopted by 13 other states and is supported by President Obama. Cars sold in California and those 13 states will emit 40% less carbon pollution by 2020.

Forty-eight State Parks Saved
Forty-eight state parks across the state will remain open after Environment California stood up to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal to close them in 2008. Our e-mail activists inundated the governor with 35,000 e-mails in one week, telling him to keep our parks open.

Polluters Will Pay to Solve Global Warming
California made history with the nation’s first statewide cap on global warming pollution. In 2008, we helped convince the state to make polluters pay for 100% of their emissions under the new cap, using the proceeds to fund clean energy.

Bringing Change to Washington, D.C.
In 2008, voters elected the most pro-environment president and Congress in recent memory. As part of Environment America Voter Action, we talked to more than 1 million voters about the environmental records of Barack Obama and the 29 pro-environment congressional candidates we endorsed, including Rep. McNerney—each of whom was elected.

Landmark Law Takes on Toxic Chemicals
In 2008, the state enacted the Green Chemistry Initiative, the nation’s most comprehensive chemical reform program—which Environment California’s research and advocacy helped to create.

Marine Life Preserved
We have a new tool to fight overfishing: In 2007, Environment California staff fought to reauthorize and strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, a critical step in revitalizing ocean ecosystems.

Toxic Toys Banned
California parents will soon have one less thing to worry about after the governor signed legislation in 2008 that will prohibit children’s toys and feeding products that contain a class of toxic chemicals—phthalates—that are linked to developmental problems.