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Climate scores big wins in ballot measures across US West

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Monday, November 11, 2024

Voters across the U.S. West granted efforts to combat climate change resounding wins in state- and local-level ballot measures, amid expectations that the incoming Trump administration will roll back federal environmental protections. California Voters in the Golden State voted in favor of a $10 billion climate resilience bond, which materialized following significant cuts to environmental initiatives in the 2024-25 state budget. California, a national leader on climate issues, has set ambitious emissions reduction targets while facing climate-driven impacts such as extreme weather, drought and wildfires. But the state has been contending with a $46.8 billion shortfall, which legislators addressed by cutting budget allocations in various sectors. The ballot initiative, Proposition 4, authorizes bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention and the protection of communities and lands from climate threats. Officials anticipate that the bonds will increase state costs by about $400 million annually during the 40-year repayment period. The bond will dedicate 40 percent of the $10 billion at minimum toward disadvantaged communities. "Californians are taking charge and doubling down on climate action to protect themselves and build a more resilient future while preserving what makes our state special," Liz Forsburg Pardi, California policy director for The Nature Conservancy, said in a statement. Colorado Coloradans granted their approval for Proposition JJ, which will loosen restrictions on the amount of sports betting tax revenues that the state can use for water projects. Such revenues in the Centennial State are typically used for watershed health projects, water storage needs, conservation and land use, drought planning, water efficiency improvements and water education, according to the proposition. Prior to the vote, the state needed to refund casinos and sports betting operators for tax revenues that exceeded $29 million annually. The influx of funds from sports betting into water projects began after voters approved Proposition DD in 2019 — authorizing a 10 percent tax on the net proceeds of sports betting in casinos. The Colorado Water Trust, which said it does not usually take a position on political issues, endorsed Proposition JJ as "a win for rivers, a win for farmers and a win for cities — a win for Colorado." Washington Voters in Washington State took decisive action against a ballot measure that sought to repeal the state's cornerstone Climate Commitment Act. Washingtonians rejected Initiative 2117, which aimed to eliminate most provisions of the legislation — approved by state lawmakers in 2021. Had the measure passed, it would have prohibited state agencies from imposing any kind of carbon tax credit, including so-called "cap and trade" programs — or those that require polluters to purchase greenhouse gas allowances and offsets. The ballot initiative also would have reduced funding for investments in renewable energy, transportation, clean air, conservation and emissions reduction efforts. Hawaii On a local level, residents of Hawaii's capital approved amendments to the Honolulu City Charter that included the establishment of a Climate Resiliency Fund. The fund will take half a percent of the city's property tax revenues and deposit that money in a pool dedicated to climate initiatives, according to the Honolulu Elections Division. These resources, per the charter, will "support initiatives and projects aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, enhancing the resilience of the city’s infrastructure and communities and promoting sustainable practices."

California

Voters in the Golden State voted in favor of a $10 billion climate resilience bond, which materialized following significant cuts to environmental initiatives in the 2024-25 state budget.

California, a national leader on climate issues, has set ambitious emissions reduction targets while facing climate-driven impacts such as extreme weather, drought and wildfires.

But the state has been contending with a $46.8 billion shortfall, which legislators addressed by cutting budget allocations in various sectors.

The ballot initiative, Proposition 4, authorizes bonds for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention and the protection of communities and lands from climate threats. Officials anticipate that the bonds will increase state costs by about $400 million annually during the 40-year repayment period.

The bond will dedicate 40 percent of the $10 billion at minimum toward disadvantaged communities.

"Californians are taking charge and doubling down on climate action to protect themselves and build a more resilient future while preserving what makes our state special," Liz Forsburg Pardi, California policy director for The Nature Conservancy, said in a statement.

Colorado

Coloradans granted their approval for Proposition JJ, which will loosen restrictions on the amount of sports betting tax revenues that the state can use for water projects.

Such revenues in the Centennial State are typically used for watershed health projects, water storage needs, conservation and land use, drought planning, water efficiency improvements and water education, according to the proposition.

Prior to the vote, the state needed to refund casinos and sports betting operators for tax revenues that exceeded $29 million annually.

The influx of funds from sports betting into water projects began after voters approved Proposition DD in 2019 — authorizing a 10 percent tax on the net proceeds of sports betting in casinos.

The Colorado Water Trust, which said it does not usually take a position on political issues, endorsed Proposition JJ as "a win for rivers, a win for farmers and a win for cities — a win for Colorado."

Washington

Voters in Washington State took decisive action against a ballot measure that sought to repeal the state's cornerstone Climate Commitment Act.

Washingtonians rejected Initiative 2117, which aimed to eliminate most provisions of the legislation — approved by state lawmakers in 2021.

Had the measure passed, it would have prohibited state agencies from imposing any kind of carbon tax credit, including so-called "cap and trade" programs — or those that require polluters to purchase greenhouse gas allowances and offsets.

The ballot initiative also would have reduced funding for investments in renewable energy, transportation, clean air, conservation and emissions reduction efforts.

Hawaii

On a local level, residents of Hawaii's capital approved amendments to the Honolulu City Charter that included the establishment of a Climate Resiliency Fund.

The fund will take half a percent of the city's property tax revenues and deposit that money in a pool dedicated to climate initiatives, according to the Honolulu Elections Division.

These resources, per the charter, will "support initiatives and projects aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change, enhancing the resilience of the city’s infrastructure and communities and promoting sustainable practices."

Read the full story here.

Photos courtesy of

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Why mountain meadows should be a priority for California’s new climate bond

More than half of California's Sierra meadows have been degraded or lost. Given their vital role assisting with water storage, carbon sequestration and providing a habitat to wildlife, investments from the newly passed Proposition 4 could boost ongoing restoration work.

Guest Commentary written by Ryan Burnett Ryan Burnett leads the Sierra Nevada Group at Point Blue Conservation Science and is the chair of the Sierra Meadows Partnership. When I stepped into a Sierra Nevada meadow over 25 years ago, I was struck by the diversity of life, the hub of biological activity — full of birds, frogs, fish and plants. As a wildlife ecologist, I was in love. That infatuation has endured, growing into one of the great passions in my life. As a lifelong Californian, I’ve always been enamored with the natural wonders our state contains, and meadows are no exception. Californians have a lot to be proud of. In addition to the highest GDP of any state, we have a proven track record as the country’s climate and environmental leader. Since voters recently approved Proposition 4, we can be proud that California will deepen its commitment to large-scale action to address the state’s water, wildfire and climate challenges. The $10 billion bond measure will flow to environmental projects large and small, including $1.2 billion for land conservation and habitat restoration, which will benefit communities and wildlife around the state. But one question looms: What might these investments to increase climate resilience look like on the ground? Some of the most important — and often overlooked — natural resources the state has are the verdant high elevation wetlands we call mountain meadows. These meadows lie at the headwaters of the rivers that flow out of the Sierra Nevada, Cascade and Klamath mountains, supplying the majority of water we rely on for agriculture and drinking, and supporting diverse ecosystems from the Sierra to the sea, from Yreka to San Diego. They serve an important role in improving water quality and increasing water storage, acting as giant sponges that soak up snow melt and slowly release it through the dry summer months. And mountain meadows are superstars at carbon sequestration, pulling carbon out of the atmosphere as fast as tropical rainforests. Mountain meadows provide important wildlife habitat for a broad suite of species, including many that are threatened with extinction, such as Willow Flycatchers and Yosemite Toads. For a millennia, mountain meadows have also held a deep cultural significance for the many tribes that have stewarded these ecosystems. Read Next Elections Prop. 4 passes: Californians approve $10 billion for water, wildfire, climate projects by Alejandro Lazo Unfortunately, over 50% of Sierra meadows have been heavily degraded or lost over the past 150 years, due to road-building, overgrazing, fire suppression, mining, water diversions and more. These meadows no longer provide the wealth of important services they once did. The Sierra Meadows Partnership has sought to protect and restore these crown jewels of the Sierra Nevada and Cascades mountains. Comprised of NGOs, government agencies, universities, conservation districts and restoration practitioners, we have restored more than 8,000 acres and protected 10,000 since 2016. The goal is to restore and conserve 30,000 acres by 2030. Prop. 4 has the potential to dramatically scale up the meadow restoration and conservation work taking place, which will pay dividends to the people and wildlife statewide that rely on the many natural benefits of healthy mountain meadows. The billions designated for water projects, forest health and nature-based climate solutions could increase funding possibilities to restore meadows, amplify Indigenous voices and improve the resilience of our watersheds. Recently, I had the privilege of engaging local elementary students from the small town of Chester to assist us in the restoration of Child’s Meadow, near Lassen Volcanic National Park. Witnessing their sense of purpose and accomplishment as they took an active role in restoring their watershed reminded me once again of why California invests in the restoration of our incredible natural resources. Read More Water More water for urban areas, some farms: Biden, Newsom officials announce long-awaited new water delivery rules December 20, 2024December 20, 2024 Environment Unstoppable invasion: How did mussels sneak into California, despite decades of state shipping rules? November 26, 2024November 27, 2024

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Grief, Hope, Joy: Faith in the Time of Climate Change

As the director of Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, Sarah Ogletree has spent the last three and a half years working from her base in Mitchell County to empower congregations and interfaith organizations in the fight for climate and environmental justice. She and other faith leaders active in the climate movement have long […]

Leaders from different spiritual traditions share their unique approaches to wrestling with existential climate fears.By Nina DietzAs the director of Creation Care Alliance of Western North Carolina, Sarah Ogletree has spent the last three and a half years working from her base in Mitchell County to empower congregations and interfaith organizations in the fight for climate and environmental justice.

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Hurricane-Force Winds Bear Down on California, Latest in Stretch of Extreme Weather

California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Record-setting flooding over three days dumped more than a foot of rain on parts of northern California, a fire left thousands under evacuation orders and warnings in Los Angeles County, forecasters issued the first-ever tornado warning in San Francisco and rough seas tore down part of a wharf in Santa Cruz.All of this extreme weather has hit California in the past several weeks, showcasing the state’s particular vulnerability to major weather disasters. Strong storms Tuesday produced waves that forecasters said could reach 35 feet (10.7 meters) around Santa Cruz. The National Weather Service issued a high surf warning until early evening, cautioning people to stay out of the ocean and away from piers. For Chandler Price, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, these extreme weather events are both typical and unusual for a La Niña winter, a natural climate cycle that can cause extreme weather across the planet. In California, it means a wetter than average northern region and a drier south. “So far we’ve seen that pattern play out pretty well,” he said, but added, “obviously, you know, the tornado in the Bay Area was atypical. ... We haven’t seen that before, at least not for a very long time.”A storm and wind gusts of up to 60 mph (96 kph) prompted the San Francisco tornado warning that extended to neighboring San Mateo County, which went out to about 1 million people earlier this month. The tornado overturned cars and toppled trees and utility poles near a mall in Scotts Valley, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of San Francisco, injuring several people. Tornadoes do occur in California, but they rarely hit populated areas.In San Francisco, local meteorologists said straight-line winds, not a tornado, felled trees onto cars and streets and damaged roofs. The storm also dumped significant snow across the northern Sierra Nevada. F. Martin Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, said climate change means that atmospheric rivers, long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, will be responsible for a greater share of California’s yearly precipitation and the periods in between those big events will be drier. These storms are essential for the water supply but can also be dangerous.“When they are too strong and too many in a row, we end up getting floods,” he said, adding that they drive California’s weather extremes.During storms this week around Santa Cruz, one man was trapped under debris and died and another person was pulled into the ocean. The surf also splintered off the end of a Santa Cruz municipal wharf that was under construction, plunging three people into the ocean. One swam to shore and the other two were rescued. A series of atmospheric rivers are expected through the rest of the week. Overall, this pattern is not unusual — these storms regularly produce high winds, heavy snow in the mountains and torrential rain this time of year.“What’s a little unique about this setup is how closely spaced they are, so there’s not much of a break between them,” said David Lawrence, a meteorologist and emergency response specialist with the National Weather Service.But these storms haven’t stretched very far south, creating dry weather in Southern California that increases fire risk.One of the state’s most recent blazes, the Franklin Fire left some 20,000 people under evacuation orders and warnings and forced students at Pepperdine University to shelter in place. The blaze was fueled by the Santa Anas, the notorious seasonal winds that blow dry air from the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes.Most of the destruction occurred in Malibu, a community on the western corner of Los Angeles known for its beautiful bluffs and the Hollywood-famous Zuma Beach. The fire damaged or destroyed 48 structures and is one of nearly 8,000 wildfires that have scorched more than 1 million acres (more than 404,685 hectares) in the Golden State this year. The Santa Ana winds, which peak in December, have also contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in parts of the southern state, said Price with the National Weather Service. “Eighty-degree (26.7 Celsius) Christmases are not entirely uncommon around here,” he added, but “there was a couple of high temperature record breaks in the mountains, which are usually less affected by the Santa Anas, and so those were a little unusual.” Phillis reported from St. Louis.Associated Press writers Martha Mendoza and Stefanie Dazio contributed to this story.The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment.Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Photos You Should See - Sept. 2024

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EPA administrator Michael Regan to depart at year’s end

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan will leave the Biden administration at the end of this year — about a month before the presidency changes hands. While Regan could serve until Trump’s inauguration, he notified staff on Friday that he will leave a few weeks early. “Today, I am writing to let you know that my last day as your Administrator will be Dec. 31,” he wrote in a note to EPA staff. “I am so proud to be part of the EPA family,” he wrote, touting the agency’s regulations over the past four years aimed at mitigating climate change and pollution. Jane Nishida, head of the agency’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs, will serve as acting administrator in Regan’s absence. The message said that Regan would “return home” to North Carolina, but gave no other information on his next steps. President-elect Trump has already said he would nominate former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) to helm the agency during the incoming administration.

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How to teach climate change so 15-year-olds can act

OECD’s Pisa program will measure the ability of students to take action in response to climate anxiety and ‘take their position and role in the global world’More summer essentialsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast“It’s going to get hot and everything’s going to be on fire and the oceans will rise,” says a year 11 student, Josh Dorian. “That’s just like the worst of the worst. How do you combat that?“Well, you fix it, you stop it from happening, you take preventive measures,” says Josh, who is studying VCE environmental science at Mount Lilydale Mercy College, a high school in Melbourne’s outer east. “Involving kids in that is scary but I think it’s necessary.”Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

“It’s going to get hot and everything’s going to be on fire and the oceans will rise,” says a year 11 student, Josh Dorian. “That’s just like the worst of the worst. How do you combat that?“Well, you fix it, you stop it from happening, you take preventive measures,” says Josh, who is studying VCE environmental science at Mount Lilydale Mercy College, a high school in Melbourne’s outer east. “Involving kids in that is scary but I think it’s necessary.”In 2025, for the first time in nearly a decade, science will be the major focus of the OECD’s program for international student assessment (Pisa) – which runs every three years (give or take Covid interruptions), its focus rotating between reading, maths and science.This year it will measure the knowledge and ability of 15-year-old students from 92 countries and economies to act on climate change, under a new heading: Agency in the Anthropocene.Andreas Schleicher, the OECD’s director of education, describes the refreshed science framework as a “small revolution” addressing students’ capacity to distinguish scientific evidence from misinformation in the context of the “biggest challenge of our times – our environment”.“This is not about a few people who are going to be engineers or scientists in their later lives,” he says. “This is the foundation we want to create for every student.”Dr Goran Lazendic, who works with the Australian Council for Educational Research, is the international survey director responsible for delivering Pisa this year. He says the survey has never solely been about curriculum or content knowledge.“The purpose of Pisa is to understand how young people are prepared to take their position and role in the global world,” he says.That’s why the survey focuses on students approaching the end of their formal education and preparing to take part in further education or work.Giving young people choiceAgency in the Anthropocene tests students’ ability to understand and explain human interactions with Earth systems, Lazendic says, to make informed decisions based on the evaluation of different sources and to demonstrate respect for diverse perspectives as well as hope in seeking solutions.In responding to targeted questions, they will also have to show agency – an understanding of how individual and collective choices can make a difference.Dr Peta White, an associate professor at Deakin University who led the design of Agency in the Anthropocene, says climate change education recognises the Earth’s systems are being changed through human interaction.White, a former teacher, has decades of experience researching environmental science and climate change education.Many young people understand the problems, she says, but don’t know what to do about them.“We don’t teach an understanding by looking at what the most fearful climate impact is,” she says. “What’s important is to allow young people to appreciate the context that we’re in and be able to move forward.”When young people have agency, they can make informed decisions taking into account the complexity of Earth’s systems, diverse sources of knowledge and different perspectives, White says.It’s about understanding their role in the ecosystem. “Not as a pinnacle up the top, but as a player in a whole range of other players in an ecosystem. They’re part of a system, which means they have to act responsibly in the system.”skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Five Great ReadsEach week our editors select five of the most interesting, entertaining and thoughtful reads published by Guardian Australia and our international colleagues. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Saturday morningPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionThis world is going to be ours in 20, 30 yearsAt Mount Lilydale Mercy College, students tackle environmental issues and sustainability across a variety of subjects by working on real examples. The approach has been recognised for fostering responsible, community-oriented citizens.For one project, Josh’s class investigated the effects of logging on the habitat of the endangered leadbeater’s possum, in nearby Toolangi state forest.“We went out in the forest, we saw first-hand,” he says. The students learned that leadbeater’s possums rely on old-growth trees with hollows, and observed how few there were in the forest.Other students constructed nesting boxes to help make up for the lack of hollow-bearing trees.‘Too big to even think about’In Australia, climate change in education has often been caught up in politics. In 2019 the then prime minister, Scott Morrison, said it was a source of “needless anxiety” for children, and it was barely mentioned in the curriculum. Coverage has increased since 2022.Amelia Pearson, at the Monash climate change communication research hub, says there have been more “climate change dot points” added to the curriculum, but mainly in subjects such as science and geography.“Climate change impacts every area of society and our lives,” she says. “So it’s really important that people who might not engage, particularly with [science, technology, engineering, maths], still have the opportunity to learn about these different challenges.”Education isn’t about persuading children to think a certain way, she says, but providing a non-political space to understand the issues and make up their own minds.Pearson manages Climate Classrooms, an initiative that brings teachers together with climate scientists and energy experts to design lesson plans and activities. The approach provides teachers with the opportunity to ask questions about complex – and sometimes contentious – concepts such as renewable energy, nuclear power, carbon offsets and net zero – “big ideas and terms that aren’t always distilled or made accessible”.Australia is a relative latecomer when it comes to embedding climate change in education, says Russell Tytler, a professor at Deakin University.Tytler, who specialises in science education and was involved in designing the Pisa science framework, says Pisa is highly influential in education policies around the world.When the results from Pisa 2025 are in, every country will be scored on young people’s understanding of climate change and their role in seeking solutions, he says. There are already signs that some countries are looking to reflect the approach in their education systems.White, with other educators and researchers, is calling for an Australian climate change education strategy to incorporate learning across all subjects and levels.“Climate change is often too big to even think about,” White says.It requires complex understanding and there are big emotions involved. What works in education, she says, is breaking things down and focusing on what people can do individually and collectively in a local context.“This world is going to be ours in 20, 30 years,” Josh says. “So our awareness of the issue, and our fears need to be acknowledged.”It can be confronting for young people whose futures aren’t looking so lucky, he says.“Education is one of the first steps you can take towards fixing the issue.”

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Caught in Quicksand

The Dead Sea is disappearing. The documentary, Caught in Quicksand, was made to raise public awareness about the receding of the Dead Sea.

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LEAVES

An academic woman in Texas becomes concerned when a massive red oak in her backyard seems to be ailing, though she isn’t sure why it bothers her so much. At the same time, in her small cottage, her attention to her work is distracted by news reports she sees and hears. They tell in graphic terms of the out-of-control forest fires up and down the West Coast. Her attention is further pulled in the direction of other stories about the worsening conditions of the world’s rainforests which she discovers are disappearing at the astounding rate of 200,000 acres a day. Suddenly such stories are all she seems to hear and see on the radio or television or on her computer. But when she hears/sees a science report about how trees actually communicate with each other, she begins to realize there may be a connection between her tree and what she is learning from the news. She begins to recall a strong connection she herself has with that tree and allows that connection to regrow…..

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This film tells the story of the victims of the flood of 2019 in Iran, which happened in the three provinces of North, Central and South of the country and left a lot of damages. The main narrators are three women who reveal the causes of this incident and mismanagements and tell the story of the people who were left to fend for themselves during the flood and after.

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Chicken Soup for the Soil

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Climate scores big wins in ballot measures across US West

California

Colorado

Washington

Hawaii

Related News

Why mountain meadows should be a priority for California’s new climate bond

Grief, Hope, Joy: Faith in the Time of Climate Change

Hurricane-Force Winds Bear Down on California, Latest in Stretch of Extreme Weather

EPA administrator Michael Regan to depart at year’s end

How to teach climate change so 15-year-olds can act

Suggested Viewing

Caught in Quicksand

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THE WATER WILL TAKE US

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a sustainable future

sign up for our mailing list to stay informed on the latest films and environmental headlines.

Cookies help us run our site more efficiently.

Climate scores big wins in ballot measures across US West

California

Colorado

Washington

Hawaii

Related News

Why mountain meadows should be a priority for California’s new climate bond

Grief, Hope, Joy: Faith in the Time of Climate Change

Hurricane-Force Winds Bear Down on California, Latest in Stretch of Extreme Weather

EPA administrator Michael Regan to depart at year’s end

How to teach climate change so 15-year-olds can act

Suggested Viewing

Caught in Quicksand

LEAVES

Talking Trees

THE WATER WILL TAKE US

Chicken Soup for the Soil

Join us to forgea sustainable future

sign up for our mailing list to stay informed on the latest films and environmental headlines.

Join us to forge
a sustainable future