Latest Press Releases

April 8, 2022

In solidarity with statewide day of climate action, and in wake of IPCC dire climate crisis projections, EOPA California says more needs to be done to abate climate disasters, which will also help Ukraine

Over 430 elected officials, representing half of all Californians, have signed an EOPA California letter to Governor Newsom urging bold action on the climate crisis. Since then, Newsom has taken noteworthy steps; a 2045 oil production phaseout goal, a proposed ban on new fracking, a 3,200-foot setback rule for new oil wells. He’s also been vocal about the need to make fossil fuels “part of our past,” and has adopted an all of government approach.

Read more here.

March 22, 2022

EOPA California, an organization with 430 CA elected officials, thanks Newsom for climate progress but say it's far short of what millions need

“California must live up to its reputation of being a climate leader and invest in green energy solutions like offshore wind to ensure our energy independence. It’s time to build a 100 percent clean energy economy that provides union jobs, secures our energy supply and environmental justice, lowers families’ energy bills and allows every youth in our state to grow up breathing clean air to live long lives. We have the technologies. Now it’s up to Governor Newsom to lead our state, and the nation.”

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February 21, 2022

EOPA California, with over 430 elected officials, urges the passage of Sen. Gonzalez’s and Sen. Wiener’s pension fossil fuel divestment bill

On February 17, Senator Lena A. Gonzalez introduced the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, SB-1173, in the California state legislature. The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener, would mandate that California’s public pension funds stop investments in fossil fuel companies.

Specifically, the legislation would give the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) until July 2027 to divest a combined $9.9 billion from the Carbon Underground 200, a list of companies considered to have the greatest potential for future fossil fuel emissions from their reserves and prohibit any new investments in those companies.

Read more here.

December 2, 2021

Californian elected officials say Governor Newsom needs to take action to stop the importation of Amazon crude oil

The shocking news broke weeks after California joined the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, an international group of countries and subnational governments committed to phasing out oil and gas production. California announced it joined as an associate member of the multinational Alliance at the UN COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow last month.

On December 2, a Stand.earth and Amazon Watch investigative report, that reveals the extent of how much California imports and refines oil from the Amazon, was published and made public.

According to the report, 50 percent of all the oil drilled and exported from the Amazon is refined in California; with half of this amount processed in Marathon, Chevron, and Valero refineries in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Read more here.

October 4, 2021

Elected Officials to Protect America - California Statement on Newport Beach/Huntington Beach OIl spill

“This oil spill constitutes one of the most devastating situations that our community has dealt with in decades,” Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Kim Carr said during a news conference on Sunday.

An EOPA California letter signed by over 320 elected officials from across California to the governor identified major steps he could take to mitigate the health risks that have led to premature deaths because of toxins and pollutants associated with fossil fuel extraction and processing. In the letter, EOPA California requests Governor Newsom stop new fossil fuel permits, phase out fossil fuels immediately, and institute 2,500-foot buffers between drill operations and community sites, while ensuring a just and realistic transition for workers.

Read more here.

September 23, 2021

CODE RED California: Elected officials from across the state urge Newsom to declare a Climate Emergency to accelerate phase out of fossil fuels

With Gov. Newsom’s position secure, elected officials across the state who supported him say that this is the critical time for a bold course of action to mitigate the apocalyptic fires and drought fueled by human-caused climate crises.

During the press conference, Gov. Newsom announced his “California Comeback Plan” that invests $15 billion to mitigate the climate crisis in multiple ways. However, none of them include accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuel extraction and production. At the press conference, the elected officials addressed Newsom’s announcement, as well.

Read more here.