SACRAMENTO, Calif. (September 14, 2021) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has defeated a recall effort organized and financed in part by opponents of strong state action on climate change. Leading candidates to replace Newsom have spread climate misinformation and pledged to support fossil fuels over clean energy, with one saying the state should become “the Saudi Arabia of the west.”
The following is a statement by Victoria Rome, the NRDC Action Fund’s California senior advisor:
“California voters have chosen to fight for a clean energy future, and they have rejected the climate deniers who would take our state backward at a critical moment. We look forward to continuing our work with the Newsom administration to strengthen California’s leadership on climate, clean energy, smarter transportation and environmental justice.”
The NRDC Action Fund assisted with a massive voter turnout effort across the state, contacting tens of thousands of environmental voters to encourage them to reject the recall.
The NRDC Action Fund will continue working with the Newsom administration to advance a bold climate agenda in the year ahead, including codifying the state’s climate targets beyond 2030, funding equitable transportation solutions, partnering with other states to advance zero-emission vehicles, instituting setbacks around oil and gas production, enhancing the resiliency of our farming and food systems, and implementing executive orders around conservation, clean cars, and oil and gas.
