Last week, the legislature passed, and the governor signed, AB-106, early action budget legislation which, among other things, gives the Department of Finance (DOF) authority to freeze one-time funds from the 2021-2023 budgets that have not yet been expended. With this authority, the administration can order state departments to suspend further expenditures of various one-time General Fund appropriations that have not been allocated or encumbered, and DOF has notified the legislature that they will do so. This freeze may widely impact funding from many departments, including the Wildlife Conservation Board, Department of Conservation, and all the state Conservancies. CCLT is monitoring this process closely and will continue to keep our members informed.
CCLT encourages you to reach out to your state legislators to encourage them to work to pass a climate bond this year. CCLT recommends using the following talking points in verbal and written communication around a climate bond. You can also use this language in social media posts.
- California’s land trusts have conserved over 5.7 million acres of forests, chaparral, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastal habitats, and working lands, and they work with diverse partners to implement nature-based climate solutions and implement 30×30 on habitats across the state.
- Our member land trusts are poised to conserve another 3.5 million acres and a natural resources climate resilience bond #2024CAClimateBond is essential if we hope to achieve this goal and the goals of the state.
- Land trusts throughout the state have stepped up to the help the state meet its 30×30 and Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy goals.
- The Legislature needs to continue making investments in our regions to protect our lands and communities.
- A climate resilience bond is critical in 2024 to offset budget deficits as severe climate events impact communities throughout the State. Thanks to legislative champions @AsmEGarcia and @BenAllenCA bonds in the Assembly (AB 1567) and in the Senate (SB 867) have funding for the programs Land Trusts will need to help meet 30×30 and other state goals.
- In recent years, California has experienced catastrophic events associated with climate change, including: a severe multi-year drought; more frequent and intense precipitation events; devastating flooding events; severe heat waves; and increasingly destructive wildfire seasons that continue to break records.
- Projects advance statewide climate efforts including, but not limited to; Pathways to 30×30, Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, Outdoors for All Initiative, Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, California Water Plan, Extreme Heat Action Plan, and California Adaptation Strategy.
CCLT is urging the state legislature, including Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Senate President Pro Tempore Mike McGuire, to invest in their 30×30 promise by finalizing and sending Assembly Bill 1567 and Senate Bill 867 to Governor Gavin Newsom to ensure these crucial funding bills make it onto the November ballot. Thanks to legislative champions Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia and Senator Ben Allen, these bonds have funding for the programs land trusts will need to help meet 30×30 and other state goals.
Join us in this crucial effort by including the hashtags #2024CAClimateBond and #30x30CA in your social media posts.