California’s values-based climate solution

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OPINION – The effects of climate change are now a daily reality for Californians. From record heat and wildfire smoke to worsening droughts and floods, our communities, especially the most vulnerable among us, are already feeling the strain. Fortunately, some of the best solutions are already all around us: in our forests, wetlands, farms, rangelands, and even city parks.

These natural and working lands do far more than offer scenic beauty and biodiversity. They absorb carbon pollution from the atmosphere, cool neighborhoods, clean our air and water, and build climate resilience. Managed correctly, California’s land base has the potential to remove around 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equal to the emissions of 22 million cars.

In 2022, California took a critical step forward by passing Assembly Bill 1757 (Garcia, Rivas), which places our landscapes at the center of the state’s climate response. AB 1757 requires measurable targets for how much carbon our lands should remove from the atmosphere by 2045. It identifies 81 strategies across forests, wetlands, agricultural lands, and urban areas, making it the most comprehensive natural carbon removal effort in the world.

This isn’t just a smart climate policy, it’s cost-effective. Nature-based projects often cost less than major infrastructure or high-tech alternatives, while delivering multiple benefits. Whether it’s planting trees in underserved neighborhoods, restoring wetlands to manage floods, or supporting farmers in improving soil health, these solutions stretch every dollar and build lasting resilience.

These efforts also improve lives. Communities hit hardest by climate change, often low-income, rural, and communities of color, stand to gain the most. Urban greening helps reduce heat and improve air quality. On farms and ranches, practices such as composting and managed grazing enhance soil health, improve food security, and increase water retention.

California’s coastlines are particularly vulnerable to rising seas and storm surges. Nature-based strategies, such as restoring marshes, dunes, and eelgrass beds, not only protect homes and infrastructure but also sequester carbon and support marine habitats. Ongoing projects in the San Francisco Bay and Humboldt Bay demonstrate that human community resilience and ecosystem restoration go hand in hand.

Crucially, AB 1757 ensures that public climate funds go to projects with real, measurable benefits, not speculative private carbon offsets. That means stronger oversight, transparent reporting, and results Californians can see cleaner air, safer water, healthier soils, and reduced wildfire risk.

State agencies are already laying the groundwork by looking for opportunities to implement California’s Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy. CAL FIRE is restoring forests and reducing fire risk. California State Parks, which manages over 1.6 million acres, is positioned to enhance carbon capture by creating living shorelines and restoring floodplains. The California State Lands Commission oversees 4.5 million acres that can align land use with climate goals. Local governments, landowners, and nonprofits are ready to support the state’s strategies.

Urban green spaces, agricultural areas and other open space offer enormous opportunities to implement climate smart strategies. Tree planting in cities like Fresno and Los Angeles draws down carbon while providing shade, lowering energy bills, and improving health. Groups like Point Blue Conservation Science are partnering with state agencies to help farmers and ranchers adopt climate-smart practices that store more carbon, boost yields, and support local economies. Specifically, Point Blue is partnering with the California Wildlife Conservation Board to steward investments in implementing climate-smart stewardship practices and restoring natural and working lands across the state, focusing on historically underserved communities. However, this funding will be depleted soon.

To meet the goals of AB 1757, the Legislature must act with urgency and establish ongoing funding to implement the 81 strategies. This is not a one-time investment; it’s a long-term commitment to climate, community, and economic health. Sustained funding will allow California to scale up proven solutions, create green jobs, and deliver real benefits to those who need them most.

California has long led the way in bold climate action. With AB 1757, we now have a values-based framework that goes beyond reducing emissions; it puts nature to work healing, protecting, and sustaining us.

The climate crisis demands urgency and creativity. Let’s invest in the lands that sustain us—on our farms, in our forests, and our cities—and build a healthier, more resilient California for all.

Cristina Garcia is a former Member of the California State Assembly representing Bell Gardens and the author of AB 1757. Sam Veloz has a PhD from UC Davis in ecology and is the Director of Ecoinformatics and Climate Solutions at Point Blue.