Climate Change

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Commentary

Newsom war on climate change vs. reality

Gov. Gavin Newsom says he wants to "step up our game" on fighting climate change, but must contend with a stark reality.

By

Dan Walters

• September 15, 2020

President Donald Trump listens as California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a briefing at McClellan Park in Sacramento on Sept. 14, 2020, on the Western wildfires. Photo by Andrew Harnik, Associated Press

Politics

Trump and Newsom: Political frenemies make nice amid California’s mounting disasters

The dynamic between Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump has turned out to be a surprise during Newsom’s short time as governor, as he’s navigated an extraordinary spate of disasters requiring federal aid and diplomacy.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• September 14, 2020

President of the United States Donald Trump speaking at the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference. Photo by Gage Skidmore via Flickr

WhatMatters

Trump headed to California as wildfires rage

President Donald Trump will visit California today for a wildfire briefing with Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials, just a few days after Newsom declared “a climate damn emergency” and slammed the federal government for its rollback of certain environmental protections. The visit marks the latest iteration of Newsom and Trump’s back-and-forth on wildfires. Last […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• September 14, 2020

Gov. Gavin Newsom tours the North Complex Fire zone in Butte County on Friday, Sep 11, 2020, outside of Oroville. Newsom has declared a statewide emergency due to the widespread fires and extreme weather conditions, and secured a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the state’s emergency response to the Northern California wildfires. Photo by Paul Kitagaki Jr., The Sacramento Bee

Commentary

Lawmakers let oil and gas interests sicken us; Gov. Newsom can put us on the path to recovery

Many state lawmakers are falling under the thrall of oil and gas industry lobbying dollars, but Gov. Newsom can jumpstart policies that will protect Californians.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 14, 2020

Environment

‘Debate is over,’ California’s governor says. ‘This is a climate damn emergency.’

As more than two dozen fires still rage, Newsom stands amid charred parkland, vowing to ratchet up the state’s ‘inadequate’ plan to cut carbon emissions.

By

Rachel Becker

• September 11, 2020

A scorched car in a clearing following the Bear Fire in Butte County on Sept. 9, 2020. The blaze, part of the lightning-sparked North Complex, expanded at a critical rate of spread as winds buffeted the region. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

WhatMatters

Fires set record books ablaze

Six of the 20 largest fires in state history California’s 2020 wildfire season is rewriting the record books. Wildfires have burned more than 3.1 million acres this year — an area approaching the size of Connecticut and the largest amount in California’s recorded history. Six of the 20 largest wildfires in state history are currently […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• September 11, 2020

A pedestrian walks around Lake Merritt on Sept. 9, 2020, in Oakland. Smoke from multiple fires in California has filled the Bay Area sky. Photo by Aric Crabb, Bay Area News Group

WhatMatters

‘It feels like the end of the world’

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, September 10. Orange skies, raging fires Just when it seemed like 2020 couldn’t get any more apocalyptic, millions of Northern California residents will likely spend their Thursday under a dark orange sky clouded with ash — just as they did yesterday. Catherine Geeslin, a San Francisco resident: “It feels like […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• September 10, 2020

Capitol

Legislators went home without taking action to protect state parks

After one of the most challenging years in our history, the Legislature’s work remains unfinished – investing in the future of state parks.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 10, 2020

Commentary

New approach needed to protect health of California’s rivers

In the face of climate change, biodiversity loss and conflict over water, California urgently needs to rethink how it manages water for the environment.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 4, 2020

WhatMatters

Last chance to avoid evicting renters

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, August 31. Legislative session ends today The fate of hundreds of thousands of California renters teetering on the brink of eviction — and of the landlords who depend on their rent payments — hangs in the balance of a cliffhanger vote lawmakers will take today. Their vote on a controversial […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 31, 2020