What the 2024 election means for California’s air and climate

OPINION – For Californians living with the nation’s dirtiest air and ongoing threats of wildfires, heat waves, drought, flooding and sea level rise, the election delivered mixed results. On the plus side, voters overwhelmingly approved a $10 billion climate bond to help the state prepare for a hotter, drier, more flammable world. On the other hand, even that large investment will be inadequate, because the return of Donald Trump to the White House magnifies all the threats that make the bond necessary, increases the likelihood of poisoned air and water and runaway climate change, and destroys the hope that the federal government will help California navigate those challenges in the next four years.

As of November 13, Proposition 4, which authorizes $10 billion in bonds for water, wildfire, conservation, offshore wind and other climate programs, was carrying over 59% of the statewide vote, a resounding victory in a year when many commentators are opining that the electorate shifted to the right.

I expect the Legislature and Governor to close ranks to defend California’s environmental leadership against the climate deniers and fossil-fuel lobbyists taking over the federal government. Those same state leaders will look to keep the costs of energy and transportation down. When seeking to balance those goals, our officials should prioritize the needs of the communities that suffer the most both from pollution and persistent inequities of income and wealth. We should make polluters pay for the damage they cause and use the money to give low and moderate income Californians access to clean transportation and efficient household energy.

In the short term, the Golden State needs the Biden Administration to finish its work. That means the EPA should issue the eight long-delayed approvals for health-protective standards adopted by the California Air Resources Board. These CARB measures will clean up everything from cars and trucks to locomotives and lawnmowers, delivering relief to the state with the worst air quality in the U.S. Biden should also make sure that his agencies disburse all the vital pollution-fighting investments that Congress has approved, so those funds can get to work reducing toxic diesel emissions at our ports, building bike lanes, and preventing catastrophic wildfires.

Once Trump takes office, California will need to be ready to defend our people’s rights to clean air and water. Trump’s allies’ Project 2025 plan makes clear their desire to overturn California’s legal authority to set clean-air standards, and Trump himself promised the oil industry he would do what they wanted if they gave him money. EPA nominee Lee Zeldin, known primarily as an election-denier who lost a race for governor of New York, promises “energy dominance” and says he will bring back jobs in the auto industry – something that the Biden administration actually accomplished. Zeldin has nothing to say about fulfilling the mission of environmental protection.

Governor Newsom has called a special session to convene in December to help the state prepare for the dangers posed by Trump’s second coming, including threats to climate action. Newsom is justified in asking the Legislature for additional funds to enable Attorney General Bonta to stand up in court to defend the policies that have made our state an innovator in reducing harmful emissions. With Trump again obstructing global climate efforts, other countries will once again look to California as America’s best hope for climate progress.

Bill Magavern is Policy Director of Coalition for Clean Air, www.ccair.org.