CLCV helps create environmental champions and pass strong environmental legislation. More specifically, these are the areas where we focus most of our attention:
Air Quality:
Though California was one of the first states in the nation to pass clean air legislation, air quality continues to be a major health and environmental concern in the state. Air pollution causes approximately 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization.
Clean & Renewable Energy:
It’s simple: relying on oil, coal, and natural gas for the bulk of our energy needs is ultimately a losing proposition. Fossil fuels will peak and run out someday; they’re already becoming less efficient and even more environmentally harmful to extract.
Environmental Justice:
Environmental justice (EJ) is defined by California law as “the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and policies.”
Global Warming:
As has become well-known, human beings are generating carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” at an unprecedented rate. A consensus of scientists agrees that those emissions will catastrophically alter our world’s climate if left unchecked.
Good Government:
Good governance with respect to the environment requires that decisions are made and implemented using legitimate, transparent, responsive, participatory, equitable processes to achieve effective policies that protect California’s natural resources and heritage for future generations.
Green Jobs:
The creation of green jobs – guiding the economy towards environmentally friendly, zero- and low-emission technologies while creating jobs in a down economy – is a relatively new but extremely timely issue.
Ocean/Coastal Protection:
California has long been on the forefront of ocean and coastal management and continues to lead important initiatives such as marine protected areas, water quality, the management of fisheries, shoreline erosion, and coastal development.
Open Space & Parks:
California’s century-old state park system is the largest state park system in the world, covering 1.3 million acres, and receives more than 80 million visitors annually.
Recycling/Waste Reduction:
Californians take pride in on our adherence to the three “Rs”: Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Recycling programs are available in every city, and the state has embraced “zero waste” as a guiding principle and goal for the future.
Smart Growth, Land Use & Planning:
California's population of 38 million is projected to grow to 46 million by 2030. A larger population means more people driving cars and pumping more greenhouse gases into the environment.
Toxics & Chemicals:
It is widely acknowledged that due to a lack of strong federal policy, the health and environmental effects of the vast majority of approximately 80,000 industrial chemicals in commercial use in the United States are largely unknown.
Transportation:
California has had a legendary, and rocky, love affair with the automobile since they first started rolling off the assembly line in the early 1900’s.
Water Quality & Supply:
Water is essential to the quality of life of all Californians. First, and most obviously, California’s people and communities can’t live without it. Secondly, the state’s economy, including its thriving agricultural industry, is dependent on abundant, reliable, clean water. Read more.
Wildlife & Habitat Conservation:
California has more species than any other state in the United States and also has the greatest number of endemic species—species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Read more.
