The end of 2020 marked Gavin Newsom’s second full year as California’s Governor. Last year, Governor Newsom faced a difficult task of leading the nation’s most populous state through three simultaneous crises: a public health crisis, an economic crisis, and the climate crisis. The Governor’s leadership on these crises largely came through utilization of executive actions. With the Legislature focused on addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the time necessary to vote on important legislation was severely shortened. The Governor’s use of executive powers to swiftly address urgent issues was, therefore, all the more critical. The Governor’s Environmental Score reflects these good executive actions, including ones to expand vote-by-mail, accelerate the adoption of zero-emission cars and trucks, and utilize natural and working lands to combat climate change. These actions, combined with his record of environmental bills he signed and vetoed, earned him a B+ environmental score, an improvement from 2019.

Newsom’s score invites additional actions to utilize all tools at the Governor’s disposal to swiftly and boldly address the climate crisis. Notably, the Governor has a significant opportunity to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. Last year saw witness to a global pandemic, worsening economic and racial inequality as a direct result of who was impacted most by the pandemic, deadly heatwaves across the state, and a destructive and deadly wildfire season that burned over 4 million acres of land and covered the skies with smoke. These challenges demonstrate the urgent need for accelerated climate action, renewable energy solutions that will replace fossil fuel-based power sources, protections for the health and safety of communities, and a need to hold polluters accountable for their pollution and contribution to a worsening climate and public health crisis.