Building a Healthy & Equitable California
What's At Stake
California is home to nearly 40 million residents who need affordable and clean water, air, transportation, housing, and food.
In order to build a healthy California, we need our policies to work for everyone.
Today, that’s not the case. Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian and Pacific Islander communities are disproportionately impacted by dangerous pollution and the effects of the climate crisis. Californians are feeling the impacts of climate change firsthand, including wildfires, extreme weather, and a debilitating and ongoing drought. Our homes, schools, and hospitals are surrounded by nearby oil and gas wells that are exacerbating health problems like preterm birth, asthma, and cancer. Polluting vehicles are driving through low-income neighborhoods. Farming communities are bearing the brunt of toxic pesticides known to cause neurological damage. While the pandemic drags on, Californians increasingly rely on the outdoors for exercise and mental health, but many lack access to nature.
We can do better. That’s why NRDC is working in California with communities, environmental justice partners, labor groups, elected officials, health advocates and businesses to build a healthier and more equitable future for all. That means residents have safe and affordable access to water, their homes are powered by clean energy, and they live, work, and play in pollution-free communities. It also means we protect California’s open spaces and natural resources for future generations.
Oil & Gas
Phasing Out Oil & Gas with an Equitable and Just Transition
"Our waters support over half a million jobs through tourism, recreation, and fishing, industries which generate over $43.5 billion a year."
"What we already know is that just transition is a critically important topic for the public as the oil industry continues its slide into eventual oblivion."
"One might imagine that those of us who are proponents of phasing out California’s dirty fossil fuels industry would be thrilled, but it’s not that simple."
Energy
Electrifying Our Future to Fight the Climate Crisis
"California’s 2022 building code update moves toward zero-emission new construction by tackling pollution from fossil fuels burned for heating and hot water in buildings."
"When AB 525 became law in September 2021, California set the standard for floating offshore wind energy development in the United States."
"Local governments have a key opportunity to support communities most impacted by racial inequities by being intentional about the role they play in planning for new construction and regulating existing buildings."
Food & Farming
Creating Just and Resilient Food & Farming Systems
"NRDC and our partners are calling for a budget reconciliation package that directs significant funding to climate-friendly agriculture and resources for underserved producers."
Nature
Protecting Natural Resources & Biodiversity
"These fish are being cooked to death because the Bureau of Reclamation chooses to release more water from its reservoirs than it should in order to deliver millions of acre feet of water, primarily to rice and almond growers who are on track to receive nearly the entire flow of the Sacramento River this year."
Toxic Pollution
Protecting Communities from Toxic Pollution
“Governor Newsom’s signature put in place a new law authored by Assembly Member Ting that bans PFAS in paper-based food packaging, requires disclosure of chemicals of concern (such as PFAS) in cookware, and prohibits misleading advertising about the presence of chemicals in cookware.”
NRDC and firefighters have worked to remove flame retardant chemicals from furniture and other consumer products in California.
“Out of the 248 active public water systems that were tested, 65% had PFAS detected in the drinking water that serve more than 16 million people in total.”
You Can Help
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1
Speak up
for CA communities
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2
Submit a comment
to protect 30x30
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3
Tell CA leaders to
protect our food
Speak up for a healthy and equitable California

Urge CA state leaders to protect oceans and other natural spaces

Urge California to restrict the use of toxic neonic pesticides

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