News
Power to the People: Energy Democracy Now!
November 1, 2019
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
September 20, 2019
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 MoreSydney Fang, 2019 Green Zones Policy Fellow
September 12, 2019
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
August 26, 2019
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.Highlights of our 2019 Congreso: Our Health, Our Power
August 23, 2019
Our 2019 Congreso brought almost 200 powerful EJ leaders to the Capitol on August 14th to build and learn together over a full day of inspiring workshops, skill-building trainings, advocating for EJ priorities, and celebrating our EJ Leadership Awardees! We thank all of the community leaders and our member and partner organizations who made our 2019 Congreso a success. Check out all the highlights from throughout the day!Our Health, Our Power: What Environmental Justice Means to Us
August 13, 2019
This year, CEJA has been redefining environmental justice in California. One of our legislative priorities, AB 1628 by Assemblymember Robert Rivas, enhances the state’s definition of environmental justice to include the “meaningful involvement” of all people in environmental or land use decisions. AB 1628 would recognize the health, dignity and agency of all people, promoting the environmental health and quality of life that everyone deserves.Celebrating Green Zones from the Frontlines to the Capitol
August 1, 2019
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!
July 9, 2019
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 MoreTropical Forest Offsets Deserve Legislative Climate Committee Discussion
June 18, 2019
The environmental justice community knows that the most effective climate policies reduce pollution at the source, at the industries in our neighborhoods. CEJA opposes false promises of carbon trading and offsets because these programs don't cut our fossil fuel dependence and instead concentrates pollution in hot spots in EJ communities. We are working for real climate solutions that will truly reduce fossil fuel emissions, but we know schemes like carbon offsets distract us from realizing our climate targets.CEJA Statement on 2019 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Funding
June 13, 2019
Since the beginning of 2019, CEJA’s members and partners have brought their stories and voices to the Capitol to ensure that statewide funding to improve their health and quality of life goes to the communities who need it the most. We worked tirelessly, meeting with our state representatives to ensure that our priorities were heard. From catalytic investments to energy efficiency upgrades in high need disadvantaged communities, here’s how CEJA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund priorities fared in the 2019-2020 California state budget.