California has been considered a national and global leader in addressing climate change by adopting climate policy that sets bold greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets and addresses historical inequities in our transportation sector.  Despite the suite of aspirational targets, reports such as the draft 2022 Scoping Plan and draft SB150 report indicate that California will not meet its climate targets. This is why ClimatePlan is co-sponsoring AB 2438, a bill to align transportation spending with our climate targets.

With the rise of global temperatures and declarations of climate emergencies there is a clear need for bold climate leadership. Will the CA Senate Appropriations Committee bridge the gap between aspirational goals with the tangible policy needed to accomplish them by voting AYE for AB 2438?

Members of the ClimatePlan network rallied with hundreds of environmental justice activists at the June 23rd California Air Resources Board (CARB) meeting, urging the board to adopt a strong and equitable Scoping Plan. The 2022 draft Scoping Plan outlines a suite of strategies to move California in meeting their targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and harmful air pollutants across various sectors. Many members of the ClimatePlan network have participated in the stakeholder process by advocating for near term solutions that will get California moving on carbon neutrality with an emphasis on protecting the public health of frontline communities adversely impacted by pollution and a push to expand renewable energy that will help create good sustainable jobs.

As bills are working their way through the legislature, ClimatePlan wanted to follow-up on some key climate bills we have been supporting. We wrote a blog about it here if you don't remember.  We are happy to report that many bills have made it off of the Assembly floor and are heading to the Senate! Senators will have the opportunity to vote on this legislation in the coming weeks. The passage of these pieces of legislation promotes public health, greenhouse gas reductions, equity, a regenerative economy, and better coordination between state agencies and local governments.

We need swift legislation to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to accelerate our plans in achieving a climate equitable society that promotes public health, equity, and a regenerative economy. Here are the top 10 legislative bills that ClimatePlan are tracking:

In response to the AB 285 report: ClimatePlan co-sponsors AB 2438, providing real solutions to align CA transit dollars with climate.

In our commitment to ensure state spending is aligned with our climate goals, ClimatePlan will be co-sponsoring AB 2438. This long overdue legislation will require more alignment between our visionary state plans and transportation infrastructure.  This bill helps resolve some of the findings from the AB 285 report that was just released on February 18, 2022 by the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and University of California Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS).