Gavin Newsom (D)

In 2023, Governor Newsom's environmental record was a complex blend of achievements and rollbacks. These actions are the main reason for California’s overall environmental score sliding from an A- to a B.

Noteworthy accomplishments include signing the Climate Corporate Leadership and Accountability Act (SB 253, Wiener), the Climate Financial Risk Disclosure Act (SB 261, Stern), and other priority bills. His administration’s establishment of Advanced Clean Fleets marked global progress in combating emissions from the transportation sector. Legal and legislative action against major oil companies sought transparency and accountability for California. Partnering with other countries on climate agreements further leveraged California’s role as the fifth-largest economy in the world to spur international action on climate.

At the same time, Governor Newsom also vetoed 11 critical bills and made over $2 billion in cuts to critical climate commitments in the 2022 budget. Cutting climate funding and not replacing it with alternative funding sources raise serious concerns about the deprioritization and delay in funding the transition to clean energy and resilience necessary to protect communities and meet our state’s emissions reduction goals. Furthermore, the last-minute jamming through of budget trailer bills to weaken environmental protection laws for infrastructure projects highlights questionable priorities and process. The expansion of the Aliso Canyon fossil gas storage facility and the extension of three fossil gas facilities (in Huntington Beach, Long Beach, and Oxnard), originally slated for closure, underscore a lack of commitment to the rapid transition away from fossil fuels necessary to solve the climate crisis. Additionally, Governor Newsom certified the environmentally destructive Sites Reservoir for judicial streamlining.

As California faces escalating climate impacts, 2024 demands a bold vision and unwavering commitment to climate justice and action from our state’s governor, with a focus on partnering with the legislature to prioritize policies that truly safeguard the state's future.

Gavin Newsom's 2023 Environmental Actions