The 2021 Legislative Session In Brief
Final Days to Vote in the Recall
Attend the Final DWR Webinar on Environmental Justice in the Delta
The 2021 legislative session ended this past Friday, Sept. 10th. And overall, like last year, it was a tough year for bold environmental legislation.
Sierra Club California began 2021 with more than 530 bills we were monitoring or had taken positions on. By the last night of session, about 75 bills we took a position on had made it through the legislature and were either headed to the governor’s desk or had been signed.
Several bills on our priority bill list that we support made it to the governor’s desk. This includes SB 47 (Limón) and AB 896 (Bennett), both relating to oil and gas operations; AB 1346 (Berman), which will provide better air quality throughout California; SB 343 (Allen), which prohibits manufacturers from using the recycling symbol on products that cannot actually be recycled; and AB 1183 (Ramos), allowing for greater protection and preservation of California desert lands, water, and wildlife.
However, the boldest climate and environmental legislation failed to make it out of the legislature. SB 467 (Wiener & Limón), which would have required buffer zones between communities and oil and gas wells and banned harmful drilling practices, failed to pass its first policy committee early in the session. AB 1371 (Friedman) sought to reduce harmful environmental and economic impacts of unnecessary single-use plastic packaging but died on the floor of its first house.
AB 1395 (Muratsuchi) would have required steep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions - 90 percent from 1990 levels by 2045. The bill also put constraints on practices by the oil industry. It failed to pass the Senate Floor on the last day of session.
However, only one Sierra Club California-opposed bill made it to the governor’s desk. In all, Sierra Club California staff and volunteers were able to stop or neutralize nearly 25 environmentally harmful bills. This includes bills that would have opened up state parks and public lands to grazing, provided broad and harmful exemptions from CEQA, delayed implementation of groundwater regulations, and slowed the advancement of rooftop solar.
Our volunteer engagement was key in getting those good bills passed and stopping the bad bills. Thank you to all of you for everything you do each legislative session—from phone calls to emails to in-district e-meetings—to help keep the pressure on for environmental commitment in the legislature.
For more details about the legislative session, watch for the release of our annual legislative report card in October.
This Tuesday, September 14th, California will face one of its most consequential statewide elections in years. The upcoming recall election could determine the future of California’s climate and environmental policy.
Sierra Club and other major conservation and environmental justice groups in California have strongly opposed the effort. If Governor Newsom is recalled, his replacement has a year in office to do massive damage to the progress we’ve made in the fight against climate change.
Importantly, the recall process itself is also fundamentally undemocratic. A candidate only needs to win the most votes - not a majority - to become the next governor. This opens the door to regressive candidates who otherwise wouldn’t have a shot at the statehouse. Newsom’s potential replacement could roll back major environmental legislation around crucial issues like gas & oil, water policy, and transportation.
If you’re concerned about the environment, social justice, housing, or a number of other progressive issues, make sure you get out and VOTE. Climate change is on the ballot, and it’s up to us to ensure that we defend the progress we’ve made so far, and solidify our position for future wins on climate change legislation.
The fourth and final Department of Water Resources webinar will take place on Thursday, September 16, and will cover the environmental justice impacts of the Delta tunnel project on communities. The webinar will include a presentation of the results from DWR’s Environmental Justice (EJ) Survey, which was completed last month. Register here to attend this webinar.
Sierra Club California and our allies believe the quality of life for Delta communities will decline if the single tunnel is built and operated. The tunnel will facilitate diversions from rivers, reducing Delta freshwater flows and degrading water quality for Delta communities in the process. Freshwater flows are critical in flushing out pollutants and preventing the proliferation of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
Algal blooms produce both air and water toxins that are dangerous to humans and wildlife. These blooms are caused by discharge from industry, municipal water systems, and agriculture mixing with warm, still water. Additionally, more pollutants and HABs will increase contamination in fish populations that are a regular source of food for many Delta residents.
Freshwater flows also mitigate saltwater intrusion. That intrusion can cause increased salinity in Delta waters, impacting water supplies for communities. Without advanced treatment, drinking water quality in many Delta communities will decline.
Read more about the environmental justice impacts of the Delta tunnel in our fact sheet here.
These webinars provide a critical opportunity for Sierra Club California volunteers to emphasize the impact that this project could have on Delta communities and ecosystems.So far, our volunteers have done a terrific job of showing up and delivering a strong environmental message to our regulators.
You can find talking points for the webinar here.
Read more about our campaign to stop the Delta tunnel, and join our Stop the Delta Tunnel Facebook group for timely updates and ways you can take action.
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