A group of activists and legislative climate caucus members stated at a media conference Tuesday that as California tries to adapt to catastrophic droughts and wildfires fuelled by the climate catastrophe, state politicians are collecting money from fossil fuel firms and not taking action on finding climate solutions.
An environmental group that assesses lawmakers’ voting records, budgets, and policies in order to hold government officials responsible gave California a near-failing grade for its lackluster progress on climate solutions.
EnviroVoters also known as the California Environmental Voters, gave the state of California its first “D” since the organization started releasing its annual assessment in 1973 because of the state’s inability to adopt substantial climate legislation last year.
“This is the first time in history we’ve ever given California a score this low,” said Mary Creasman, CEO of EnviroVoters, formerly the California League of Conservation Voters, as quoted by Inside Climate News.
“This is unacceptable in a state like California,” she said. “Everybody is paying attention to what California does, and looking at us to create the models for action.”
According to Creasman, the organization didn’t award California an F since the state made “substantial expenditures” in climate change in the previous budget.
California lawmakers haven’t approved meaningful climate legislation since 2018, she added, when they passed a measure requiring renewable energy and zero-carbon sources to account for 100 percent of retail power sales by 2045.