Ready to work with California’s new administration

This week’s changing of the guard in California offers a chance to reflect on the many accomplishments over the past eight years but also prepare for the critical road ahead.  As California Gov. Gavin Newsom begins his term in office, we are particularly encouraged by apparent shared priorities around critical sustainability  issues such clean water and continuing the state’s climate leadership.

In his inauguration speech, Newsom praised California for leading on climate: “Where Washington failed on the epochal challenge of climate change, California led, extending our cap-and-trade system and setting bold targets for lowering greenhouse gas emissions, then beating them.”  

Emissions from California as of 2016 met the state goal of decreasing them to 1990 levels.  The state’s  cap-and-trade system was strengthened and continues, as was its low-carbon fuel standard. California laid a foundation to build on this progress by passing legislation to aim to derive 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy by 2045.

And yet the global predicament of climate change is more alarming and urgent than ever.  As reported this week, US emissions rose in 2018, reversing recent downward trends.  The 91 scientists answering to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report predicting catastrophic levels of flooding, heat waves and, drought await us in just a couple decades if society globally doesn’t control global warming to keep it to way below a 2-degree Celsius rise, ideally no more than a 1.5 degree Celsius rise.

Thirteen federal government agencies came out with the National Climate Assessment describing a severe hit to economic growth, life expectancy, and health if greenhouse gas  emissions are not brought down.

Luckily, 3,628 entities across the United States have said they are committed to working to keep emissions from rising and to fulfilling the terms of the Paris Agreement whether or not the federal government is a participant. The We Are Still In coalition includes 2,160 companies and investors, 280 cities and counties, 40 faith groups, 347 colleges and universities, tribes, health care organizations and 10 states including California. Ceres is thrilled to be co-leading mobilization efforts for this coalition to build a low-carbon economy and steer the US to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.

California can’t rest on its laurels. As Newsom said, “the eyes of the world are upon us.”  The world needs to know that the determined work of taming emissions is well underway.  The world needs to know that applying market-based forces to create a sustainable low-carbon economy is succeeding  – albeit slowly – and that much more needs to be done. California can show the way with smart implementation of its 100 percent clean energy goal, and more.

Newsom’s impassioned speech also addressed problems in all corners of California. He called out rural communities saying, “I see you, I care about you and I will represent you with pride.”  

He said safe and clean drinking water is one of the human needs falling short for some Californians, many in rural communities. Later in his first week, Newsom issued a budget proposal that helps to address the issue. 

Here in California, as many as one million people are exposed to unsafe drinking water from their taps. The state Water Resources Control Board said residents served by 300 small water utilities and some private water wells face contamination from arsenic, nitrates and other toxins, mostly because these small utilities are lacking sufficient funds to fully operate water treatment equipment. Their water in turn has failed to meet federal safe drinking water standards, exposing up to 1 million people to unsafe drinking water.

We are glad to see that Newsom’s budget includes establishing a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund, “consistent with the policy framework” of a proposal the California legislature weighed for nearly two years but never voted on. It would provide a way to ensure all state residents have safe water coming from their taps. We are hopeful. The fifth largest economy and tech center of the world can surely solve this problem. 

From providing access to clean drinking water to lowering greenhouse gas  emissions from transportation and buildings, to safeguarding climate laws from federal rollback, California lawmakers have their work cut out – and we do too.

We are ready. We know that the policies California enacts reverberate throughout the nation and often around the world. The state’s  cap-and-trade system is a model to the world with a number of jurisdictions trying to emulate it. And  California’s clean cars program has been adopted by 13 other states – or more than a third of the US car market.

It will not be easy, but strong leadership can  lead us to a better  economy and a brighter California for all. Gov. Newsom, if you’re ready for this task, we are all in, too.