Building a Healthy & Equitable California
California is home to nearly 40 million residents who need affordable and clean water, air, transportation, housing, and food.

What's at Stake
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.
Phasing Out Oil & Gas with an Equitable and Just Transition
"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."
Ann Alexander, Senior Attorney, Nature Program, NRDC
Digital artworks created for NRDC by Smug Morenita, an illustrator, visual artist, writer, and organizer.

In English, sized for: Facebook | Instagram | Poster | Poster (PDF)
En español, sized for: Facebook | Instagram | Poster | Poster (PDF)

In English, sized for: Facebook | Instagram | Poster | Poster (PDF)
En español, sized for: Facebook | Instagram | Poster | Poster (PDF)

In English, sized for: Facebook | Instagram | Poster | Poster (PDF)
En español, sized for: Facebook | Instagram | Poster | Poster (PDF)
Electrifying Our Future to Fight the Climate Crisis
“We strive to create safe, healthy, walkable, bikeable, and welcoming urban environments.”
Carter Rubin, Transportation Advocate, NRDC
"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."
Maria Stamas, Former Co-Director, Climate Equity, American Cities Climate Challenge
Creating Just and Resilient Food & Farming Systems
“Investing in diverse food and farming systems can increase access to fresh, nutritious food; create jobs in the food and agricultural sector; grow rural wealth; and reduce the use of dangerous inputs and pesticides.”
Arohi Sharma, Deputy Director, Regenerative Agriculture, NRDC
Protecting Natural Resources & Biodiversity
"Through the 30x30 framework, California has an opportunity to help halt and reverse the alarming rate of biodiversity loss by strategically conserving lands to connect core habitats and movement corridors for wildlife."
Damon Nagami, Senior Attorney, Lands Division, NRDC
"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."
Kate Poole, Senior Director, Water Division, NRDC
Protecting Communities from Toxic Pollution
“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.”
Anna Reade, Staff Scientist, NRDC
“'Chemical recycling' is a dangerous and false solution to the growing plastic waste crisis. What’s worse, these facilities are generating hazardous waste and exacerbating environmental injustices under the false guise of recycling.”
Veena Singla, Senior Scientist, People & Communities Program, NRDC
Governor Newsom put funding for key climate and environmental initiatives on the chopping block.
Tell California's elected leaders to protect your health and climate investments this year!

Tell California’s elected leaders to protect your health and climate investments this year!
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