Campaign Updates
Environmental Justice in the 2019 Legislative Session
CEJA is proud of our 2019 environmental justice legislative achievements. The majority of our priority bills moved successfully through the legislative process and were signed into law by Governor Newsom. These new laws will provide a range of critically needed benefits to environmental justice communities, from bringing clean safe drinking water to communities, greater transparency and community engagement in decision-making and planning processes, better access to resources for disadvantaged unincorporated communities, cleaner trucks, and public banking opportunities.
Protect CEQA to Advance Environmental Justice and Protect Housing
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) helps to protect fundamental rights for EJ communities to affordable homes free from the harmful burdens of pollution, to participate in local land-use decisions, and to access clean air and water that improve and protect their health. We must protect CEQA to build affordable housing that is safe and healthy, while ensuring that our state’s most vulnerable residents are not inadvertently exposed to toxic hazards and other dangers in their own homes. Learn more here.
We can’t wait for Washington’s Green New Deal. California needs a Just Transition now.
In California, a Green New Deal can mean the Just Transition that environmental justice communities have already been demanding! A Green New Deal means taking bold, inclusive steps to divest from a fossil fuel economy that is destroying our health and environment. It means phasing out oil and gas production. It means saying no to multibillion-dollar bailouts for investor-owned utilities and skyrocketing electric bills for the rest of us. A Green New Deal means building new ways to power our neighborhoods that ensure safety, bring good jobs and stabilize the climate.
CEJA Releases New Green Zones Report
CEJA is proud to announce the release of its newest Green Zones Across California report for 2018! This updated 36-page report highlights nine Green Zones case studies led by residents and community-based organizations from different environmental justice communities across California.
Energy Democracy: Accountability and Control of our Energy System
CEJA is shaping a bold vision for energy use and decision making in California to ensure that low-income families already burdened by pollution are not saddled with higher energy prices. Our communities deserve Energy Democracy to be at the table where decisions are made to protect the air they breathe from toxic sources, and to help save on energy bills. Read about our goals and energy policy priorities this legislative session.
The Fight to Stop Prop 70: Communities of Color Say No to Big Oil
On June 5th, voters in California resoundingly rejected Proposition 70, the most controversial proposition on the June primary ballot, that was part of a long-term effort by Big Oil to attack and undermine efforts to address climate change. EJ communities across the state mobilized their family, friends, and neighbors to vote down Proposition 70 because we needed to take a stand against corporate-controlled climate policy.
2018 Environmental Justice Legislative Agenda
We are pleased to release our 2018 Environmental Justice Legislative Agenda featuring a range of bills that ensure safe and affordable drinking water, protect communities from toxic waste, improve air quality, promote equitable transportation, and limit offshore oil drilling. Read all about the 15 bills on our 2018 EJ Legislative Agenda here!
2017 Environmental Justice Scorecard
Our Environmental Justice Scorecard is the only report on how California's elected officials are addressing environmental issues that impact low-income communities and communities of color. See how your legislator scored in the 2017 legislative session, read about highlights, and where the fight for EJ continues in 2018.
SB 1000 Toolkit: Planning for Healthy Communities
Our SB 1000 Toolkit showcases a wide range of best practices, methods and policies for local jurisdictions to adopt an EJ element, or integrate EJ-related goals, policies and objectives in their General Plans. Download the toolkit today to learn more about EJ planning, methods for identifying disadvantaged communities, plans for successful community engagement, potential funding sources, and other strategies for implementing the requirements of SB 1000.