California Environmental Justice Alliance

NEW Green Zones Report: Rethinking Local Control

Our report highlights eight case studies to show how community-led decision making can lead to more effective policies, programs, and planning decisions that create healthy and thriving neighborhoods.

Fighting for EJ and our communities in a time of COVID-19

CEJA remains committed to uplifting the voices of frontline community members in public decision-making processes. Click through for a list of COVID-19 Resources and Mutual Aid Request Forms, gratefully sourced from our CEJA members, partners and allies.

Power to the People: Energy Democracy Now!

In order to ensure a reliable and safe energy system, we need community-led, innovative energy solutions respond to our climate and economic needs. We need greater community ownership of our energy system. We need to hold utilities and other load serving entities accountable when they make mistakes and incentivize safer operations. We need our elected officials to act faster and bolder. Read more about our vision for Energy Democracy.

California Air Resources Board Adopts Controversial International Carbon Offsets Standard

Yesterday, on the eve of the Global Climate Strikes, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted 7-4-1 to approve the controversial Tropical Forest Standard (TFS), paving the way for California’s polluters to continue paying to further pollute through a flawed market scheme that hurts public health, with no meaningful climate mitigation or protections for indigenous sovereignty. Despite strong objections of … Read More

Sydney Fang, 2019 Green Zones Policy Fellow

This summer CEJA hosted the first ever Green Zones Policy Fellow, Sydney Fang. Sydney is currently pursuing dual Masters degrees in Public Policy and Urban Planning at the Harvard Kennedy School, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Asian American Policy Review. We thank Sydney for all of her incredible work from policy advocacy to protect CEQA and advance AB 1628 to helping facilitate workshops focused on SB 1000 implementation and planning for healthy communities.

2019 Environmental Justice Legislative Agenda

CEJA's Environmental Justice Legislative Agenda for 2019 features 16 bills that will address energy, climate, air quality, transportation, and drinking water and infrastructure improvements. From anti-displacement protections in energy efficiency programs to increasing zero emissions vehicles, these bills keep equity at the center of California’s environmental policies by bringing much needed benefits directly to disadvantaged communities.

Celebrating Green Zones from the Frontlines to the Capitol

CEJA partnered with PODER to lead a Green Zones Community Tour of the Mission and Excelsior districts of San Francisco.  Led by staff, youth leaders, and residents, this powerful tour united over 60 community leaders from across the state to share stories of struggle and resilience, envision a healthy and just future, and develop solutions for transforming their neighborhoods. The tours animate our imagination and help us strategize for policy solutions to build healthy, community-led transformation in our neighborhoods. After an incredible day showing the power of Green Zones, we are so excited to bring together community leaders at our Congreso!

Welcoming CEJA’s Two New Directors!

CEJA is thrilled to welcome Katie Valenzuela, Political & Policy Director and Mad Stano, Program Director to CEJA! Both Katie and Mad are highly talented advocates with deep experience working for environmental justice in California, including with CEJA member organizations. Their senior-level expertise will broaden our capacity and grow our leadership. They will work closely with CEJA’s Executive Director and… Read More

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.

2018 Environmental Justice Voter Guide

What are the environmental justice priorities on the ballot this November? Check out our sister organization CEJA Action's 2018 Environmental Justice Voter Guide for positions on key propositions! Communities of color and working families will play a key role in shaping the outcomes of the elections in our state and are a powerful force for equitable environmental policies and a more participatory, inclusive democracy.  With your support, we can make environmental justice a centerpiece of the 2018 elections.